The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park doled out prizes recently for the Plein Air Rockies event, and the pieces still hang at the Council’s art gallery through October 25. What will you see if you go?
During the month of August, 34 artists worked in and around Rocky Mountain National Park within a 50-mile radius of Estes Park. More than 150 pieces were completed, and each painter was invited to submit three paintings and one miniature (4” x 6”) for competition. From them, judges Lani Vlaanderen and William Hook chose the top winners.
“The Old Hay Barn,” by Jason Sacran, 2015, oil, 14 x 18 in. Best of Show
Jason Sacran took Best of Show with his painting “The Old Hay Barn.” His buddy John Porter Lasater IV won First Place with “Elkhorn Ave.” Second Place was won by David Harms for “Green in the Valley,” while Third went to Jeff Legg for “Meandering Stream.”
“Green in the Valley,” by David Harms, 2015, oil, 11 x 14 in. Second Place and PleinAir Magazine Award winner
The competition for best miniature was won by Mary Frankel for “Vintage Lure.” People’s Choice was won by Erik Koeppel’s “Hallet Peak”; Koeppel also won the Quick Draw competition with his painting “Long’s Peak From Estes Park.” Second Place in the Quick Draw went to Jason Sacran for “Good Morning Estes Park” and Third was won by Virginia Unseld’s “Warm Flowers on a Cool Day.” Sacran also won the Artists’ Choice award with “Guardians of Endo Valley” — but he shared it with Lasater and his “Elkhorn Ave.” and Koeppel and his piece “Morning at Bear Lake.”
“Meandering Stream,” by Jeff Legg, 2015, oil, 20 x 20 in. Third Place and PleinAir Magazine Award
Estes Park Mayor Bill Pinkham presented the Town of Estes Park Silver Award to Erik Koeppel for “Evening Light on Long’s Peak.” CAC Board President Mike Oline presented the CAC Board of Directors Award to Jeff Legg for “Meandering Stream.” Leslie Allen presented the Leslie Allen Abstraction In Nature Award to Kevin Weckbach for “Stormy Falls,” and Lars Sage, CAC Facility and Program Manager, presented the Nocturne Award to Lynne Haines and her “Nocturne @ Barrel.”
“Long’s Peak From Estes Park,” by Erik Koeppel. Quick Draw winner
The event organizer reports that many of the participating artists were hanging around for the CAC’s Fall Color Paint Out Event, which gets underway next week, with the subsequent show’s opening reception slated for October 10. Go here for more information.
