Artist Marita Hines and other members of Marietta Art Alive want people to appreciate the outdoor world. In 2021, they organized the first River Towns Plein Air event, named for the style of painting outside. This year's event will take place from Saturday, April 18, through Sunday, May 3, in and around Marietta, Columbia and Wrightsville.

The festivities will begin on April 18 with an Artist Quick Draw competition, which will run from 1 to 5 p.m.

"This year's quick draw is sponsored by the Marietta Area Business Association and will take place during the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Front Street in Marietta," Hines explained. The competition invites the public to see the Cherry Blossom Festival from an artist's perspective. Artists age 18 and older will be stationed throughout the event with their easels and art supplies, painting festival scenes. Their entire artwork must be completed within a limited time frame.

People are invited to view the finished pieces at 4 p.m. at the corner of Waterford Avenue in Marietta, next to Shank's Tavern. At that time, artist awards will be announced, and artwork will be for sale.

On Saturdays and Sundays from April 18 through May 3, the Beth Bathe Juror Exhibit will be held at MH Art Gallery, 42 W. Market St., Marietta. The gallery's hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bathe is well known in the national plein air circuit, and she has won awards in many prominent exhibits. She lives in Strasburg and has a large following throughout Lancaster County.

She began painting en plein air in 2013 and has participated as a juried artist in the River Towns Plein Air event four times. She's also on the faculty for the 2026 National Plein Air Convention in Branson, Mo.

Bathe will serve as juror for "Artists Paint the River Towns," the main competition of the event, which will be held from April 18 through Tuesday, April 28.

"Accepting the juror's role was a natural progression for me," Bathe said. "Having participated as an artist for four years, I've developed a deep appreciation for the festival's mission and the community it fosters. It's an honor to contribute to a local event that has been pivotal in my own artistic journey. As a juror, I can now support fellow artists by recognizing their talents and encouraging their growth."

She noted that plein air painting requires a blend of skill, adaptability and passion and that the art form relies heavily on observation and flexibility, including the ability to navigate weather and light changes.

"Regularly painting outdoors hones your skills and helps you capture fleeting moments," she said.

Thirty-two artists from multiple states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia will participate in the competition.

"Many of the artists have been in past events and they return because they love the area and the relaxed schedule," Hines said. "Artists have 10 days to paint and a limited paint out area on both sides of the Susquehanna."

Fourteen awards totaling $5,000 will be presented. All work will be for sale and will be displayed in the studio space behind the Marietta Community House, 264 W. Market St., from Thursday, April 30, through May 3. Hours will be 6 to 9 p.m. on April 30, with awards presented at 6:30 p.m.; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 1; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 2; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 3.

Along with Hines, Marietta Art Alive includes Marianne Calenda, Melissa Carroll, Joanne McIlvaine, Linda Mylin Ross and Susan Davitti Darling.

"We're a group of volunteers who do this because we like creating opportunities for the artists, and we love the impact that art can have on small towns like ours," Hines said.

She noted that there has been a revival of plein air events across the country over the past decade, and the group is proud of the growth of the local festival.

"We continue to be amazed at the number of people who embrace the event and show up to view the show and purchase art," she said. "Many visitors find a personal connection to art pieces and feel they have to take one home."

She said the public is always surprised by what the artists choose to paint.

"Some people in our county have never really explored the river towns and are charmed by what they see in the art. It makes them want to visit the sites in person," she remarked. "Artists each have their own style and choices of subject matter. Their interpretations are unique. For those who live in the river towns, the show is a personal experience and connection."

For more information on the River Towns Plein Air event, visit http://www.mariettaartalive.com/rtpa2026. For more information on the paint out event, visit http://www.discovermariettapa.org/eventdetails/paint-out-at-the-cherry-blossom-festival. For more information on Bathe, visit http://www.bethbathe.com.