The 5th Annual Paint the Peninsula was considered by many who attended to have been by far the best. With subjects ranging from Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Port Townsend, and Crescent Bay to lavender fields, boats, and rusty trucks, judge Cathe Gill had some tough choices to make.
More than $12,000 in cash prizes was up for grabs during the 5th Annual Paint the Peninsula plein air competition in Port Angeles, Washington, from August 21 through 27. This year’s judge, artist Cathe Gill, chose awards from paintings produced by 22 nationally known artists, including Paula Ensign, Bruce Gomez, Joel Heger, James Brad Holt, Susiehyer, Anna Lancaster, Shuang Li, Gretha Lindwood, Chuck Marshall, Jim McFarland, Ned Mueller, Deke Palecek, Rachel Pettit, William Rogers, Grant Smith, Richard Sneary, Jinsheng Song, Gregory Stocks, Melanie Thompson, Patty Voje, Robin Weiss, and Yong Hong Zhong.
Bruce Gomez took home Best in Show this year for “Madison Falls, Final” while J. Brad Holt’s entire body of work earned the Artists’ Choice. Gomez also won First Place in the People’s Choice category for “Lake Crescent, the Awakening.” Shuang Li’s “Morning Light” won the People’s Choice Second Place, and Richard Sneary’s “Breakfast at the Lodge” earned the People’s Choice Third Place.
Melanie Thompson’s “Hurricane Ridge Twilight” was deemed the Spirit of the Olympic Peninsula winner. Ned Mueller won Best Wheels, Motors & Sails for “Port Townsend Boatyard,” and Susiehyer was Best Nocturne for “Summer Nights in Sequim.” Robin Weiss’ “Rose Theatre” was the winner of Best Architecture, while Richard Sneary also took Best Waterscape for “Low Tide at Crescent Bay.” Best Landscape went to Rachel Pettit for “Jardin du Soleil.”
Ned Mueller, Robin Weiss, and Yong Hong Zhong took home First, Second, and Third Places (in that order) in the Paint Out category. In the Petit Painting Show category, Shuang Li, Melanie Thompson, and Paula Ensign took home First, Second, and Third Places (in that order). Finally, Yong Hong Zhong and Shuang Li also received Honorable Mentions.
To learn more, visit Paint the Peninsula.
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