Paint Dover!

October 15 – 19, 2025

The seventh annual Paint Dover! plein air (outdoor) painting event enjoyed beautiful and unseasonably sunny, warm weather mid-October 15 as 16 artists from around the region painted downtown and throughout the city of Dover. A “wet paint” opening exhibition took place at The Biggs Museum of American Art, indicating that the paintings were so recently painted that some of them were not even dry yet.  

A sampling of the artwork was then displayed in downtown shops through early November. And for those that missed the opportunities to see the artwork, there is still opportunity to view them virtually, while hearing the music of the horn duo of Trumpeter Blayne Salerni and Trombonist Kristin Monroe in the video. 
Beyond paid registration for artists, all activities were free and open to the public.

Locations to view this year's paintings:

• Agape Body Piercing (135 S. Bradford St.)
• House of Coffi (14 E. Loockerman St.)
• Mitten and Winters, CPA’s (117 W. Loockerman St.)
• The City of Dover (15 The Plaza)
• The Moving Experience (27 W. Loockerman St.)
• Stone Rail Market (25 W. Loockerman St.)

This year’s painting location parameters were “within the City of Dover” with an emphasis preferred in the downtown area. This broader boundary allowed returning artists fresh scenes to capture in a variety of media, including oil, pastel, ink and watercolor, including artist Karen McLaughlin who won Third Place for “The Monster Mile.”  Many other artists received awards - a total of cash and arts certificates totaling $2,000.

“This year’s final on-site event took place in the heart of downtown where seen artists painted their selected scene in just two hours and then exhibited the paintings.  This is common among these kinds of outdoor painting events, but is certainly not easy!” said Diane Laird, the DDP Executive Director and originator of Paint Dover in 2019.  “Subject matter moves, sun direction changes, wind picks up, and all the while, people are watching you paint, and sometimes even talking with you, which can be very distracting under pressure.”  DDP Board member and owner of Americare Home Solutions, Sueduka Gibbs, served as Judge for the Quick Draw event.

This event was held again in partnership with the Biggs Museum of American Art, and the DE Division of the Arts has been an ongoing supporter of the event since its inception.  For a full list of winners and to view the 2025 Paint Dover! virtual exhibition after Nov. 1.

Paint Dover! is part of DDP’s commitment to providing high quality arts programming in downtown Dover, the event highlights the creative arts and placemaking priority within the Capital City 2030.

Paint Dover! is produced by  Main Street Dover (a subsidiary of the Downtown Dover Partnership) with generous sponsors and partners including Affordable Business Systems, Bayhealth, The Biggs Museum of American Art, Blick Art Materials, City of Dover Mayors Office, Delaware Division of the Arts, Del-One Foundation, Dover Art League, Jerry’s Artarama of Delaware (Newark), National Endowment for the Arts, and PNC Bank.

ABOUT PREVIOUS EVENTS

• Press Release - Dover Celebrates the Arts
  UPDATED NOVEMBER 11, 2024
• Press Release - Outdoor Painting Event in Dover
  UPDATED OCTOBER 2, 2024

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

Interested in Purchasing a Painting?

View an exhibition and purchase a 2025 painting at The Biggs Museum of American Art:  Sat-Sun, October 18-19, 2025!

Or contact the Downtown Dover Partnership via email at [email protected]

Award Winning Paintings - 2024

Paint Dover is a competition in which the artists competed for $2,000 in awards. This year, winners included:

• Mayor’s Choice:  Karen Mcgloughlin
• Curator’s Choice – 1st Place:  Quenna Mast
• 2nd Place:  Trish Doty
• This is Dover!:  N. Taylor Collins
• Stately Homes:  Trish Doty
• Dover Heritage:  Robert Manning
• Iconic Loockerman:  Katie Mundie
• Small Works:  Cathy King
• Small Works:  Teresa Rodriguez
• Small Works:  Cheryl Wisbrock

Thank you to the partners and sponsors of Paint Dover! 2024

Biggs Museum, BLICK Art Supplies, City of Dover, DE Division of the Arts, Del-One FCU, Dover Art League, Jerry's Artarama of Delaware, National Endowment for the Arts, Bayhealth, Affordable Business Systems and PNC Bank. 

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