We will once again be hosting our annual paint out, High Cotton! Our first two days we will paint spectacular red clay roads, moss covered oaks, and the beauty of the rural fields of Boston Georgia, a farming town listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 10 miles east of Thomasville.  The next two days we will paint the beautiful historic streets of downtown Thomasville. Our featured artists will be your guides at nearby sites, but you are free to wander on your own as well. Take the opportunity to meet fellow artists and make new friends! The paint out will conclude with a wet paint sale where you can display and sell any of your artworks created during the paint out.

Schedule:

BOSTON

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

CHECK-IN AT 8:30 at the Boston Community Club across from the City Hall, 109 North Main St.

While most rural towns are disappearing, Boston just gets stronger. Surrounded by huge landowners and snowbirds who participate in winter hunting dog field trials, the wealth is hidden down the clay roads and backwoods.  The town is on the National Register of Historic Places, with a tiny Carnegie Library, and historic churches. There is much to paint in this town that is in many ways like 1900. You can find cotton fields and farms where you may pull off the roads, but don’t go into fenced farms.  Sandi Shaw (815-309-5131), Joe Palmerio (941-203-0415) and Ann McCrickard (229-403-6902) can answer your questions during the event.  If someone wants to buy your painting off your easel you can sell it just remember to give us our 33% commission. If any time during the event you just want to get-away and paint alone, try the Rose Garden 420 Covington Ave., Thomasville. This park has more than 1,500 rose bushes and an old train bridge over part of Cherokee Lake.

AM: Danny’s Cabin and Pond, 389 Peach Orchard Rd. (Slippery clay road when wet.) Look for the first gate on the left, drive in and park near the cabin. Danny Groover is the mayor of Boston and a supporter of plein air events for many years. There is a bathroom in the cabin. Check out the cotton fields from his side yard or choose the lovely pond in the back. Just beyond the property on Peach Orchard there is a spot to paint the canopy roads with Spanish moss-draped oak trees.

PM: Explore historic Boston. There are silos, a train depot, Main Street shops, a Carnegie Library, the Baptist Church with a stunning stained-glass window, and peanut wagons, all in the center of Boston.

5:30: Italian Dinner back at the Community Club, a gift every year to us by Gioia Palmerio. This gal can cook!  Bring your own favorite beverage.  Seating will be inside the club and the outside breezeway.

DAY TWO, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

AM: Glen Iris Farm, 671 Martin Rd. The winding dirt driveway goes past a cotton field and runs under spectacular old moss-dripping oaks to a gentleman’s “farm.” There are two ponds in the property. Feel free to explore the acres of old growth. He has farm animals and friendly dogs. Bring bug spray!

PM: Parramore, a huge estate designed for hunting dog contests. Owner Judy Rasmuson is a plein air painter and she is happy to open her property. On the property it is very important that you stay on the roads.  The landscape is sweeping in size with trails lined with old oak trees, ponds and grand vistas.  There is no address!  We will meet at the breezeway at 1 PM and go to Parramore by following a lead car.

WET SALES IN BOSTON.  We will have a casual art sale Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM on the sidewalk around the Community Center. Bring your paintings to the Center and bring extra easels to display your work. Pick up your art before 4 PM, so we can set up for dinner.

BOSTON RESTAURANTS AND TREATS

The Buzzery, 110 S. Main St. Yummy pizzas, salads, beer and more. Open for lunch and dinner. Main Street Café, 105

Main St., across from the Community Center. Southern cooking and hospitality. Open for breakfast and lunch. The Hive, 125 W. Jackson, a tasting room for the mead and wine produced in Boston. Open on Friday 5 to 9 PM. Dillon Candy Company, 19927 US 84 East. Open weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM. The Silo 31626, 104 West Pear St., casual dining, indoor and outdoor seating. Open for lunch and dinner; serving beer, ales and other specialty drinks. Lunch and dinner; Sunday brunch.

THOMASVILLE

DAY THREE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7                                                                        

AM: 9:00 meet at the Covey Nest, 210 W. Jackson St.  The bagel shop across the street has great food.  The Covey Nest building will be open all day so you can hang out, pick up water and use the bathrooms. The building will be open all day until 5 PM.

10:00 to 11:30: Quick Draw Contest at the Big Oak at 124 Monroe Ave. on the corner of Monroe and Crawford. Katie Dobson Cundiff (www.dobsonart.com) will judge the paintings. The featured artists and emerging artists will be in separate categories. Ribbons will be given to the winners.

After lunch we will paint on Jackson Street and Broad Street. This is our opportunity to paint the historic downtown and attract shoppers to our High Cotton Art Sale Saturday afternoon. There are lots of people who will love to watch you paint. Please encourage them to come to the sale.

In the evening the downtown businesses stay open for the Monthly First Friday Sip and Shop. Bars and restaurants sell drinks allowed on the street; ask for a free wrist band to drink outside. There will be a free concert at the Ritz Amphitheater across from the Covey Nest.  The entertainment is Mainstream Band, 8 to 10 PM, good time to paint if you are ready for nocturne painting of people having fun, or just bring a seat or blanket and enjoy the music.

DAY FOUR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8

9 AM: THIS IS THE HIGH COTTON EXHIBIT AND SALE DAY. Drop off your art at Covey Nest no later than 10:00. Let’s paint on West Jackson during the event to draw a crowd.

You will be able to show up to three paintings, if a painting is sold you may replace it. All work must be framed, and a strong wire must be across the back of the painting. You will be given a card for you to describe the work and the price; we will hang the work with your card.

THE HIGH COTTON EXHIBIT AND SALE WILL OPEN AT NOON AND CLOSE AT 3:00.

New this year, during the show you will get to participate in a peoples’ choice contest for your favorite painting by a featured artist. The winning painting will be used as the promotional image for the 2023 High Cotton Paint Out.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS PART OF HIGH COTTON. THERE IS MORE TOMORROW!

Check out the Featured Master Artists Workshops and Demos available Sunday, October 9 here.