2023 Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-out Winners Announced

The Orange County Arts Commission and the Orange County Arts Alliance are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th Annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-out, which took place October 4-6, 2023, throughout Orange County. Seventy-seven painters from four states participated in the painting completion, which was judged by award-winning plein air painter Scott Boyle:

I enjoy exercising my aesthetic preferences, whether it be in visiting art museums or judging art shows.  The problem in judging for such a great competition is that there are never enough ribbons or awards for the wonderful artwork submitted.  Everyone who entered a piece of artwork is to be commended for their wonderful efforts; there was a lot of skill on display. When judging a plein air exhibit, I initially look for impact and what first catches my attention; following that, in this order, I look for:  1. Design – division of shapes, negative space, value structure, and the way an artist leads a viewer’s eye through a painting. 2. Drawing. 3. Use of color. 4. capturing types of light or mood. 5. Use or application of the medium. 6. Presentation – Title, story, framing, matting or handling of gallery wrap.

FIRST PLACE

The Old Courthouse by Dorothy Whitmore of Hillsborough, NC
Pastel | SOLD
Great design using shapes, and syncopated spacing, good drawing and great color giving the feeling of air.

 

 

SECOND PLACE

117 South by Min Zhong of Raleigh, NC
Oil | $295
Great impact and design, love the cropped house, Interesting use of color and bold paint application.

 

 

 

 

THIRD PLACE

Party Barn by Beth Barger of Apex, NC
Oil | SOLD
Great design, I love the use of color here, exaggerating just a little with nice control of warms and cools, this painting has great feeling.

 

 

BEST CITYSCAPE

Hillsborough Panorama by Lyudmila Tomova Clark of Cary, NC
Oil | $1,100
Good use of shapes, Great drawing and perspective from above with giving you a feeling of panorama. Bold use of color.

 

 

BEST FARM SCENE

Blackwood Farm by Mark Miller of Carrboro, NC
Oil | $400
Good design, Connected farm buildings, Great color harmony giving us the feeling of early morning light. I love the paint application.

 

BEST NOCTURNAL SCENE

Pluck Farm x 4 by Kristin Smith of Mebane, NC
Watercolor | SOLD
An interesting quadtych arrangement of 4 square watercolor nocturnal scenes. All nicely designed with lovely muted nighttime color. A delightful piece of artwork.

 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS

	Edge of the Woods by Jacqueline Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC Oil  | SOLD
	214 S. Nash St by Sue Foell of Durham, NC Oil | $490
	Tall Trees, Hillsborough V.2 by Wesley Dalton of Hillsborough, NC Oil and wax | SOLD
	Union Grove Farm Vista by Maria LeFrancois of Raleigh, NC Oil | SOLD

 

YOUTH COMPETITION RESULTS

FIRST PLACE – High School

All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy by Melanie Maqueda Tlaczani (12th Grade, Orange High School)
Acrylic | $250

 

 

SECOND PLACE – High School

Stream at the Botanical Garden Trail by Allison Tian (11th Grade, East Chapel Hill High School)

Acrylic | $300

 

 

 

 

THIRD PLACE – High School

No Parking by Kaitlyn Simonson (12th Grade, Eno River Academy)

Acrylic | $175

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST PLACE – Middle School

The Past in the Present by Adsila Getz (8th Grade, Orange Middle School)

Watercolor | $50

 

 

 

SECOND PLACE – Middle School

River Walk by Caylyn Smith (7th Grade, Gravelly Hill Middle School)

Watercolor and marker | $35

 

 

THIRD PLACE – Middle School

A Walk in the Park by Chloe Decker (7th Grade,
Gravelly Hill Middle School)

Watercolor | $30

 

 

 

 

2023 SPONSOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

	Power to the Flowers by Beth Barger of Apex, NC Oil | SOLD
	All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy by Melanie Maqueda Tlaczani (12th Grade, Orange High School) Acrylic | $250
	Edge of the Woods by Jacqueline Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC Oil | SOLD
	Checking Collards by Laine Francis of Burlington, NC Oil  | $575
	Hometown Realtors Supporting the Arts Arid by Melanie Maqueda Tlaczani (12th grade, Orange High School) Acrylic | $250
	Russell Knop Pottery, LLC The Party by Davis Erickson of Mebane, NC Oil | $400
	Chicken Wagon by Andie Freeman of Apex, NC Oil | SOLD
	Maple View Ice Cream Store by Maya Barton of Chapel Hill, NC Watercolor | SOLD
	Jamey Tippens Home Inspections, LLC Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm by Susan Paulsen of Chapel Hill, NC Oil | SOLD
	Pond’s Edge by Jacqueline Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC Oil | SOLD
	Burwell School Garden by Emily Eve Weinstein of Chapel Hill, NC Oil | SOLD

A People’s Choice Winner will be selected by attendees of the painting sale and exhibit through the end of November.

The exhibit of paintings will be displayed and for sale through the end of November at the Eno Arts Mill Gallery, open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5pm.