Paint the Peninsula Week 2023: Information for Participating Artists

Registration is now closed:

OVERVIEW:

Paint the Peninsula Week is a group art show/sale with proceeds shared between the artists and the library. The show is not juried and anyone over the age of 15 may register and participate.

Artists will have one week (from Friday, June 23rd to Friday, June 30th) to complete up to two paintings within a 6-hour time period for each painting. From July 10th to July 15th, the artwork will be displayed in the library for in-person viewing and on an online auction website where bids can be placed. Bidding will take place solely on the auction site.

  • Advanced Registration begins: April 23rd
  • Open Registration begins: May 5th
  • Registration Closes: June 13th (OR WHEN WE REACH 90 ARTISTS)

Approximately 80% of the submitted works typically sell during the event. Artists set their own minimum bid price and designate a percentage to donate to the library as a charitable donation which is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Most artists donate 50% of the sale price or more.

YOU MUST REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE:

All artists who wish to participate in Paint the Peninsula Week must register online in advance. Registration opens on Friday, May 5th and closes no later than Tuesday, June 13th. IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to display restrictions, registration will shut down when 90 artists have registered, even if that is before June 13th.

Registering artists who participated last year have already provided an artist statement/bio, and will have an opportunity to review their statement before art check-in. Registering artists who did not participate last year must provide a short artist statement/bio during the online registration process. It is a fantastic way for bidders to get to know you! It is also an opportunity to provide a link to websites or social media accounts that highlight your other work.

If you have any questions about registration, please contact Leda Beth Gray, Development and Communications Coordinator, email: development@bhpl.net or phone: 207-374-5515, ext. 16.

Registration closed

MAKING ART:

You may make your artworks anywhere on the Blue Hill Peninsula, including Orland, Surry and Deer Isle.

We ask that you create one or two works of art between June 23rd and June 30th within a 6-hour time period per work.

Although you may produce up to two works during the week, only one work will be displayed in the library. Both works will be available for bidding and viewing on the online auction site. The artist decides which piece will be displayed at the library.

Although many artists choose to paint or draw landscapes outside, there is no limit on what you can do: views from your window, still lifes, portraits or abstract works are all welcome!  We do kindly request that your paintings be no larger than 20” x 20”, including any mat or frame. And although mats and frames are not required, we do ask that you put a stiff backing (board or foam core, simply attached) on any works on paper, for their protection.

Additionally, we ask that artists photograph their own work(s). Please plan to take a well-lit photograph. Each photograph should be square or rectangular (please avoid “tall and narrow” or “short and wide”).  Once registration is complete, you will receive a separate email with a link for uploading information about your work(s) and photo(s).

Work will be displayed on small easels on counters throughout the library, so it is very important to keep the edges of your canvas free of paint. A stiff backing should be included for works on paper for display purposes.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHECK IN BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO PAINT. We use an honor system to ensure you are creating your piece(s) within one six-hour window per piece between June 23rd and June 30th.

PLEASE BRING YOUR FINISHED WORK TO THE LIBRARY (5 Parker Point Rd, Blue Hill) between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm ON SATURDAY, JULY 1st. We MUST have all works at the library by 3:00 pm to carefully store the works prior to installation. No late submissions, please.

The URL is www.fundraiser.support/BHPLptp2023

CHECK-IN OF COMPLETED ARTWORK on Saturday, July 1st         

All artwork (both works, if submitting two) must be delivered to the library between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on July 1st.

Using the link you were emailed after registration, you will already have sent us information about the work(s) you are submitting, including which artwork you want to be displayed in the library, if you are submitting two.  At check-in, you will have a chance to review this information, change it, and also confirm the details of your artist statement.

PRICING:

Please be aware that volunteers are not able to recommend minimum bid prices. Minimum bids generally range from $50 up to $750.  Most are between $75 – $300.

ONLINE BIDDING AUCTION SITE:

All bidding will take place on the online auction site, Auctria. Your high-resolution photograph(s) of your painting(s) will be displayed on the auction site along with information about the artist, artwork, and the minimum bid price. The auction site will be active between 9 AM, July 10th and 7:30 PM, July 15th.

PAINT THE PENINSULA WEEK:

The artwork will be displayed and available to view at the library from July 10th until July 16th during library hours. During this time, the public can view the works in person as well as online at the Auctria auction site. There will be a link to the auction site on the BHPL website to direct potential bidders there.

The library will produce an event guide with bidding instructions, a list of all participating artists and acknowledgment of all event sponsors. Your painting will be clearly labeled with your name, both at the library and online.

Please understand that the mounting of this show is very complicated, requires many volunteers, and is done in such a way as to not disrupt the day-to-day functioning of the library. Every effort is made to display the work in a coherent, respectful manner.  We are unable to rearrange the artwork.

The online auction catalog is organized by artist’s name, so to find a particular painting(s), bidders will start by searching for the artist.

The week, and auction, will conclude with a party on Saturday, July 15th. The auction will end at 7:30 PM, during the party, and winning bidders who are at the party are welcome to take their artworks home with them, that night, once they have paid online or in person.

Works not sold during the auction will remain at the library for sale at their opening bid price until July 22nd. Artists are free to take their unsold works home at any time.

PAYMENT TO ARTISTS:

Artists will be sent a check within three weeks of their artwork being paid for by the winning bidder. The percentage you choose to donate to the library at check-in registration will be deducted from the final sale price, and you will receive a donor acknowledgement letter for tax purposes.  We will also send you the name and address of the person who purchased your work, if we have it, unless explicitly requested otherwise by the winning bidder.

Thank you ahead of time to all participating artists for creating new work and for your generous contributions to BHPL.  We are excited for the return of Paint the Peninsula!

DATES AT A GLANCE

Registration

  • Advanced Registration begins: April 23rd
  • Open Registration begins: May 5th
  • Registration Closes: June 13th (OR WHEN WE REACH 90 ARTISTS)

Painting

  • Week of Painting: June 23rd to June 30th (6-hour window per painting)
  • Use the link emailed to you after registration to provide details about your work(s) and upload photo(s).
  • Art Check-In: July 1st

Event

  • Online Bidding & In-Person Viewing: July 10th to July 15h
  • Bidding Ends at 7:30 pm on July 15th
  • Party: July 15th 5:30-8 pm
  • Unsold Art is displayed until: July 22nd (though you can pick up your unsold art earlier, if you choose)

INSTRUCTIONS AT A GLANCE

  • Works must be no larger than 20” x 20” (including any optional mats or frames)
  • Artists may submit up to two works. Only one work, chosen by the artist, will be displayed in person at the library. Photos of your work(s) will be displayed online on the auction site.
  • Artist statement should be reviewed or submitted during registration.
  • Artists are requested to take their own photographs. All photos must be rectangular or square (1:1, 4:3, 16:9 aspect ratio)
  • Use the link that is emailed to you after registration to upload the following information about the work(s) and photos of the work(s). This information will be confirmed at check-in (and can be edited at that time).
    • Title of each work
    • Approx size of each work
    • Minimum price / starting bid for each work
    • Medium of work
    • Painting location of each work
    • Percentage donated to the library

Registration is closed