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Paint Dover!

Paint Dover! 2024 will take place Tues. - Thurs., Oct 8-10!

Featured image is "One Summer Night" by Hyo Lee, created during Paint Dover! 2023 and awarded "THIS Is Dover!"


Register Now for Paint Dover! 2024

Click here to register.

Reduced rate pricing available until September 1.


Click here to view the 2023 Virtual Exhibition.

Register for Paint Dover! 2024 (Coming Soon).

  • $30 Early Registration (Through Sept. 1)
  • $40 Registration (Begin Sept. 2)
  • $10 College Student
  • Free for High School Student, but registration is required

2024 Schedule

Tues-Thurs., Oct. 8-10 Painting & Competition

Artists & art-lovers enjoy three days of outdoor painting! 

Thurs., Oct. 10 Opening Reception

A "wet paint" exhibition of artwork created during Paint Dover! will take place on the lawn of the Biggs Museum of American Art. The event will feature refreshments, live music, and the announcement of awards. The reception is free to attend and open to the public. 

Sat., Oct. 12, Demonstration

Learn the artist judge's process as they share techniques with the crowd. Free to attend, but pre-registration is requested. Hosted alongside the Biggs Museum of American Art. 

Oct. 18 - Nov. 7 Extended Exhibition

Downtown stores will display artwork from Paint Dover! and visitors may purchase their favorites.

Oct. 21 - Virtual Exhibition

View all of the plein air artwork and vote for your favorite to receive the People's Choice Best Painting award. 


Paint Dover! is a plein air painting event and art competition in downtown Dover, Delaware, with three days of painting options, culminating in an artwork exhibition, competition, and sales to the public.

Participating Paint Dover! artists from around the region take to the streets, parks, sidewalks and outdoor cafes to participate in this annual event in the cooler fall season. Inspired by downtown Dover’s architectural landscape, historic commercial buildings, gardens and scenery, artists quickly capture changing light and shadows, and the “spirit” of downtown Dover. The community is invited to watch artists paint outdoors throughout the three days, attend the exhibition, and purchase artwork.  Over $1,000 in awards are presented!  An extended exhibition takes place virtually and downtown.

Image of Paint Dover! 2023 Opening Reception, featuring award winners (from left to right) Dennis Young, Pat Southern-Pearce, Hyo Lee, Judith Loeber, and guest judge, Gigi Windley. 

View additional photos on the Paint Dover! photo album, available here.


Virtual Exhibition: Paint Dover! 2023

View the previous virtual exhibitions: Click here for 2022Click here for 2021, Click here for 2020.


Interested in Purchasing a Painting?

Contact the Downtown Dover Partnership via email at [email protected] or call at (302) 678-2940.


Award Winning Paintings - 2023

  • Best in Show - The Family in Silver Lake by Hyo Lee
  • Second Place - Early Morning at Spence's by Katie Yost
  • Third Place - Guardian Angel by Jim Rehak
  • Small Works - Irish Mike's II by Francis Burns
  • Small Works - Garden by Janet Williams
  • Honorable Mention - I See You! by Ed Lewandowski
  • Honorable Mention - May & Perza by Rosemary Connelly
  • Honorable Mention - John Banning by Winifred Way
  • Mayor's Choice Award - John Bell House by Erin Geiger
  • DSU Hornet Spirit - Remember Me by Karen McGloughlin
  • Iconic Loockerman - La Hacienda by Dennis Young
  • Dover Heritage - The Old State House by Pat Southern-Pearce
  • THIS is Dover! One Summer Night by Hyo Lee
  • Stately Homes - Italiante Victorian by Judith Loeber
  • People's Choice Best Painting - Sidewalk Sketching by Martha Rose A. Echols

Thank you to the partners and sponsors of Paint Dover! 2023 

Biggs MuseumBLICK Art SuppliesCity of DoverDE Division of the ArtsDel-One FCU, Dover Art LeagueJerry's Artarama of DelawareNational Endowment for the Arts, and PNC Bank


Questions?  Contact [email protected] or call 302-678-2940

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