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
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Edge of the Woods by Jacqueline Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC Oil | SOLD |
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214 S. Nash St by Sue Foell of Oil | $490 |
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Tall Trees, Hillsborough V.2 by Oil and wax | SOLD |
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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
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Power to the Flowers by
Beth Barger of Apex, NC Oil | SOLD |
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All Things Are Difficult Before They Are Easy by Melanie Acrylic | $250 |
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Edge of the Woods by Jacqueline Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC
Oil | SOLD |
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Checking Collards by Laine Oil | $575 |
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Hometown Realtors Arid by Melanie Maqueda Acrylic | $250 |
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Russell Knop Pottery, LLC The Party by Davis Erickson of Oil | $400 |
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Chicken Wagon by Andie
Freeman of Apex, NC Oil | SOLD |
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Maple View Ice Cream Store by
Maya Barton of Chapel Hill, NC Watercolor | SOLD |
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Jamey Tippens Home Hogan’s Magnolia View Farm by
Susan Paulsen of Chapel Hill, NC Oil | SOLD |
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Pond’s Edge by Jacqueline
Rimmler of Cedar Grove, NC Oil | SOLD |
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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.
