Bill Abel’s “Park Avenue” watercolor painting was named the first-prize winner of Falls Church Arts’ competition last Saturday, an event to culminate the organization’s fourth annual Plein Air Festival. The festival invites local artists to paint “Scenes in the City” en plein air, or outdoors. For first place, Abel (pictured above, center, with FCA President Barb Cram at left and juror Carolyn Grossé Gawarecki at right) was given the The Don Beyer Volvo-KIA Plein Air Prize of $500, awarded by Mike and June Beyer.
Second place went to Patricia Walach Keough’s “Spring on Cherry Street” oil painting, and the artist received the The Tori McKinney Rock Star Realtor Plein Air Prize of $250. She is pictured at left with McKinney, from left to right.
The third-place Falls Church Arts President’s Plein Air Prize of $250 went to Rajendra K.C. for his “W&OD Trail” oil painting. These winners were judged by acclaimed local watercolorist Carolyn Grossé Gawarecki.
The People’s Choice Award was given to two works, as there was a tie for the highest number of votes. Oil paintings by Kathy Buschow (“West End”) and Rajendra K.C. (“St. James on a Spring Day”) shared that honor. These works and more will be exhibited at ArtSpace Falls Church through to August. (Photos: Shaun van Steyn)
