For six days, plein air painters worked in the canyons and gulches around Escalante, Utah, in a premier plein air event. In the end, 18 artists took home awards.
The artists worked around the Grand Staircase region in the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, part of the Everett Ruess Days celebration. More than $8,000 in prizes was handed out in the 11th year of the event. In the end, two painters took home Best of Show awards — Stephen Chamberlain in the oil/acrylic category, and Mike Padian in the mixed media category.
Doug Braithwaite and Katy Ann Fox won Awards of Merit in the oil/acrylic category, while Scott Geary and Nancy Lewis won Awards of Merit in mixed media. Honorable Mention awards in the oil/acrylic category went to Cynthia Rosen, Cynthia Mohseni, Carol Bold, Emily Boespflug, and Brad Holt. Honorable Mention awards in mixed media went to Marsh Owen, Susan Thiele, Karen Knorowski, Lewis Williams, and Carol Johansen.
Dave Treanor won the People’s Choice award, while Manny Mellor took the Artists’ Choice award.
The event included a paint-out. First Place in that competition was won by Emily Boespflug, with Second Place going to Doug Braithwaite and Third going to Stephen Chamberlain.
