Wrap Up of Paint It! Ellicott City 2025 in Historic Ellicott City

Artists from around the region gathered in Ellicott City the weekend of June 5-8 for Paint It! Ellicott City 2025, an annual plein air painting event. Artists set up their easels throughout Ellicott City’s historic district to capture scenes of the picturesque mill town and its unique charms and compete for cash prizes. 

The Arts Council hosted a public reception on June 9 featuring the opening of an exhibit showcasing the work of 27 juried artists and the presentation of  $7,200 in awards. 

Juror Crystal Moll presented two Gino Awards, $1,000 each, which are sponsored by the Manelli Family and named in honor of Ellicott City artist Gino Manelli (1915-2010). The awards were presented this year to Dana Enders for Lean on Me and Oleg Shvets for History in Light.   

Juror awards also went to: 

• 2nd place, $750: Zhaobo Li, Red Umbrella 

• 3rd place, $500: Ann Crostic, Morning Has Broken 

• 4th place, $400: Andree Tullier, Waiting For Breezes 

• 5th place, $300: Mark Hiles, From the River to Main St 

• 6th place, $250: Nancy Freeman, Sun Steps 

• Honorable Mentions, $100 each: Kathleen Kotarba, Quiet Refuge; Michael Kotarba, Eastbound View; Zhaobo Li, Rain; Therese Spadaro, Welcome to Ellicott City 

The following awards were presented through the generous support of the Arts Council’s Paint It! Ellicott City partners: 

• AARP Maryland’s AARP Award, $750: Oleg Shvets, Two Bridges 

• Howard County Historical Society’s Best Depiction of a Historical Site Award, $500: Mark Hiles, After the Rain Stops 

• Patapsco Heritage Greenway’s Best Depiction of the Patapsco Award, $500: Susan Benigni-Landis, Swinging Bridge Stroll at Patapsco Park 

• Blossoms of Hope’s Best Depiction of Nature Award, $250: Ann Crostic, The Pastor’s House 

• Howard County Historical Society’s Honorable Mention, $250: Andree Tullier, Patapsco Female Institute 

• Ellicott City Partnership’s Best Depiction of Main Street Award, $250: Tammy Leffler, Stopping Along Main Street 

• The Carole Zink Award, $100: Dana Enders, Bridge to History 

A very special thank you to Paint It! Ellicott City 2025 award sponsors: The Family of Gino Manelli, AARP Maryland, Howard County Historical Society, Patapsco Heritage Greenway, Blossoms of Hope, Ellicott City Partnership, and The Family of Carole Zink. 

The Paint It! Ellicott City 2025 exhibit is on display in Gallery I at the Howard County Center for the Arts through August 2. Also on display in Gallery II is No Boundaries: Unrestricted Artistry, our annual exhibit in partnership with Howard County Recreation and Parks’ Department of Therapeutic Recreation and Inclusion Services featuring work by youth and adult artists with development disabilities.