Plein Air Festival Winners Announced

Mark Boedges received the Best in Show award for his oil painting “Niagara Escarpment.”

The Featured Artists awards for the seventh annual Door County Plein Air Festival, presented by Peninsula School of Art, were announced at the Festival’s gala event on July 26.

Judged by internationally acclaimed plein air painter, Kenn Backhaus, both the Best of Show and Artists Choice Awards were received by Mark Boedges of Burlington, Vermont for his oil paintings entitled “Niagara Escarpment” and “Sturgeon Bay Shipyard,” respectively. “Niagara Escarpment” presented a dramatic view of a rocky cliff at water’s edge and “Sturgeon Bay Shipyard” featured the beauty of industrial and marine objects.

First Place was awarded to Marc R. Hanson, of Longmont, Colo., for his oil painting of rustic and sunlit “Nearing Road.”

M. Shawn Cornell, of St. Louis, Missouri received second place for his low angle view of a field in “Queen Ann and King Cloud.”

Rick Brawner received first place in the Dockside Quick Paint for “The Chief.”

Aaron Schuerr, of Livingston, Montana, received the third place award for his sunset painted in pastel entitled “Evening Surprise.”

Union City, Indiana painter Carol Strock Wasson, claimed an honorable mention for “Starry Night Over Moonlight Bay.”

The Best in Show, Artists’ Choice, and first place paintings will be on display at Peninsula School of Art through August 17.

At the Dockside Quick Paint: Rick Brawner of Fish Creek won first place for “The Chief,” Trevor Knapp, of Green Bay, won second for “The Morning Boats,” and third place went to Adam Crane, of Chicago and Ephraim, for “At Water’s Edge.”

Peninsula School of Art is located at 3900 County Hwy F in Fish Creek. For more information visit DoorCountyPleinAir.com.