The Door County Plein Air Festival pulls artists from thousands of miles away — it’s one of the most beloved of the annual plein air events. The competition is keen. Who took home awards?
 
M. Shawn Cornell won First Place with “Please Don’t Rain on my Parade,” an award co-sponsored by PleinAir magazine and Blick/Utrecht. Jason Sacran won Second with “American Courage.” Eric Jacobsen earned Third Place for “Shadow Side,” and Honorable Mention was earned by Andy Evansen and John P. Lasater IV.
 


“Shasta,” by Carl Bretzke. Best in Show

 


“American Courage,” by Jason Sacran. Second Place


“Shadow Side,” by Eric Jacobsen. Third Place


Carol Strock Wasson


“Ephraim Morning,” by Andy Evansen. Honorable Mention

 
Carl Bretzke won Best in Show, sponsored by PleinAir magazine, for “Shasta.”  Another painting by Eric Jacobsen, “Morning Light,” won him the Artists’ Choice award. In the Dockside Quick Paint event, open to all painters, R. Gregory Summers won both the Artists’ Choice award and the People’s Choice award. People’s Choice got him prizes; the Artists’ Choice win makes him a featured artist at the 2017 Door County Plein Air Festival.
 


“Midnight Ketch,” by John P. Lasater IV. Honorable Mention


“Leaving at 10,” by R. Gregory Summers, 2016, oil on board, 16 x 12 in. Artists’ Choice and People’s Choice in the open division


“Morning Light,” by Eric Jacobsen. Artists’ Choice


Jason Sacran paints the sunrise

 
For Summers, Door County meant an 11-hour drive each way for two hours of painting in competition. “That’s a lot of pressure, with kind of an ‘all or nothing’ outcome,” says the Kansas painter. “You go there to win, and nothing less is really acceptable. Last year I went home a loser. Strange, all the self-imposed pressure to perform at the sound of a horn! Especially when you know that only a fraction of your paintings come out worth their salt. Then, one hour into the two-hour event, the boat I was painting — the focal point of my piece — set sail. I did know this was going to happen, so I did a quick block-in and tried to catch the important qualities of the ship. It was one painting that won both awards — the first time that’s happened in the 10-year history of Door County. Pretty darn cool. Anyway, it was worth it. Would it have been if I didn’t win? I guess I’ll never know — luckily.”
 


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