The crowd gathers at the Benbow Inn for the awards ceremony for Plein Air at the Lost Coast in Northern California. Photo by Wes Edwards

The Pacific Coast Highway hugs the California coastline from Dana Point to Mendocino County, but it skips a big section about 230 miles north of San Francisco. The terrain was too steep there to build a road. That stretch, often known as the Lost Coast, is now home to a new plein air painting event. 

 Plein Air at the Lost Coast was held recently at Shelter Cove, complete with a Quick Draw event. More than $5,000 in prizes was awarded. The event was organized by the Shelter Cove Arts and Recreation Foundation (SCARF).

 Best of Show winner Sterling Hoffman, right, poses with Mark Mitchell, the president of the Shelter Cove Arts and Recreation Foundation, which sponsored the event. 

The top winner at the event was Sterling Hoffman; his Best of Show award earned him $1,000. 

First Place in the Oil category went to Erin Dertner, with Second Place going to Paul Kratter. First Place in Watercolor was won by Barbara Tapp; Second Place was won by Sara Kahn. In Pastel, Judith Perry took the top prize, with Ralphie Hendrix winning Second Place. First Place in Acrylic was won by Bruce Willis, and Second Place was won by Tristan Oates.

Hoffman’s award-winning painting

The Supervisor’s Award was given to Steve Ladd, and the Kings Choice Award was won by Suzi Long. Best Local Artist was Cietha Wilson. Jackson Lain and Erich Neubert won Honorable Mention awards. 

An artist confronts a typically beautiful view along the Lost Coast. Photo by Wes Edwards 

The Artist’s Choice at the Quick Draw was Suzi Long, while the Artists’ Choice at the overall show was Erich Neubert.

 Steve Ladd, winner of the Supervisor’s Award, poses with his artwork. Photo by Wes Edwards 

The Quick Draw winner was Kathy O’Leary; she took home a $500 prize. Erin Dertner won Honorable Mention in the contest.


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