2016 Door County Plein Air Festival Awards Announced

Carl Bretzke with his Best in Show oil painting, “Shasta.”

From a field of 35 nationally recognized outdoor painters, Carl Bretzke from Minnesota was awarded Best in Show at the Door County Plein Air Festival for his oil painting “Shasta.” The winners of the 2016 invitational were announced at the Festival’s Gala event held at Peninsula School of Art on July 30. Notable plein air artist and judge Billyo O’Donnell determined the awards.

The Second Place Award went to Jason Sacran for “American Courage.”

Other top awards included: First Place – “Please Don’t Rain on My Parade” by M. Shawn Cornell; Second Place – “American Courage” by Jason Sacran; Third Place – “Shadow Side” by Eric Jacobsen. Jacobsen also won the Artists’ Choice Award for “Morning Light.”

Honorable Mention recognition was claimed by both John P. Lasater IV for “Midnight Ketch” and Andy Evansen for “Ephraim Morning.” R. Gregory Summers received an invitation to participate in the 2017 Door County Plein Air Festival with his Featured Artists’ Choice Award in the Dockside Paint Out division for his untitled oil, which prominently featured the bow of a sailing vessel docked in the Fish Creek Marina. All of the winning paintings were in oil except for the watercolor “Ephraim Morning.”

The award-winning works, as well as a selection by other featured artists, will be on display in the Guenzel Gallery of Peninsula School of Art until Aug. 13. Peninsula School of Art is located at 3900 County F in Fish Creek. For more information visit doorcountypleinair.com.