Meet-Up and Plein Air Paint-Out at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

401 Museum Dr. Hagerstown, MD 21740

Sunday, August 23, 2026, 10 am - 1 pm

If you have never visited the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagarstown, it's a real treasure!  

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA) has been recognized as one of the finest small museums in the United States. The Museum serves as a centerpiece in the beautiful historic City Park in Hagarstown, Maryland. There are plenty of lovely views to paint.  

If you don't want to paint outdoors, you are invited to come and tour the museum instead.  There are three current exhibitions that you will surely want to visit, to include artwork of the beloved Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau.  

There is no rain date for this event. If the weather is not suitable for plein air painting, we invite you to come anyway to enjoy the museum. Note: You may NOT paint inside the museum, but if you wish to bring a small sketch pad and make sketches (pencil only please), that is ok.

There is plenty of parking and admission is free.

If you are new to plein air painting, limit your kit.  You need to comfortably carry all the supplies you need.  Be sure to clean up after yourself (leave no trace). Also, visitors to the park are likely to stop, observe, and ask questions.  That's part of the plein air experience.  Be gracious with your answers and enjoy the opportunity to share your love of pastels.

Here are some resources you may find useful:

MPS Checklist for Plein Air Painters 

Karen Margulis’ Blog article: Packing for Plein Air with Pastels

Pastel Today article: 11 Tips for Pastel Painting En Plein Air  by Lorenzo Chavez 

Richard McKinley’s tips for pastel painting en plein air