Celebrate Gettysburg

Festival Quick Draw adds easel action to downtown Gettysburg

By Casey Saylor

First Place Winner Jessica Albin

While walking the streets of Gettysburg on Wednesday, pedestrians had to be careful not to bump into the painters who set up shop on the sidewalks surrounding Lincoln Square. These painters were part of the Gettysburg Festival’s Quick Draw and Wet Sale, where they were given only two hours (between 3-5 p.m.) to produce masterpieces worthy of judging and auction. At 5 p.m. a bugle sang, signaling an end to working time, and the artists moved their work to the Wills House for judging in the Wet Paint Competition.

As the painters anxiously sat back, three judges stepped forward to critique their work: artists Mark Brockman, Freya Qually and Jennifer Van Stein. After 20 anxious minutes for the artists, the judges announced their results. Third- and second-place prizes, gift certificates donated by Blick Art Supplies, went to Jonathan Stasko and Dianne Lorden, respectively. First place, a $500 cash prize donated by ACNB, was awarded to Jane Albin.

While bystanders strolled throughout downtown Gettysburg, they were able to pass by and watch as eight artists turned their canvases from white to works of art. The artists were used to this atmosphere, however, as nearly all of them have been outside painting every day of the Gettysburg Festival as part of the plein air program, in areas ranging from private to public. Their artwork from the week is currently on display at Gettysburg’s Historic Train Station, along with four other artists who did not participate in Thursday’s competition. The exhibit is free to the public and will remain open through the end of the Gettysburg Festival.

The only artist who participated in Thursday’s event and is not featured at the Historic Train Station is the Wet Paint Competition winner, Jane Albin.

See more Quick Draw and Wet Sale photos on our Facebook page.

Left: In response to her placement, Lorden was very surprised. “[When time was up, I thought] eh, whatever. That picture is what it is.” As it turns out, that “whatever” picture earned her Second Place and $300 to Blick Art Supplies.

Above: As a first-year participant in the Gettysburg Festival Wet Paint Competition, Stasko was able to snag Third Place and $200 to Blick Art Supplies. The upstate New York artist is enjoying his first visit to Gettysburg while his work is on display at Lord Nelson’s Gallery on 27 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg.

Did You Know? While artists were allotted 2 hours to finish their works, first-place finisher Jessica Albin completed hers with nearly 20 minutes to spare. “I don’t want to add too much, you know?” she commented.