Winners of the 5th Annual Teaching Studios of 'Plein Air' Art Competition

To celebrate and appreciate the beauty of the landscape of Long Island’s North Shore, The Teaching Studios of Art held its 5th annual “Plein Air” Art Competition on Friday and Saturday, September 23-24. The competition, which was open for public viewing, took place at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay. Twenty-five selected artists competed for multiple prize packages including a grand prize of $1000. The winners were: Tony Winters (1st) of New York City, Patricia Watwood (2nd) of Brooklyn, NY and Dean Adams (3rd) of Weehawken, NJ.

"Plein Air," meaning " in open air," is a specific type of landscape painting that is done entirely on-site, in the great outdoors. “While very popular on the West Coast, there are very few Plein Air competitions on the East Coast,” says Rob Zeller, Director and Instructor, the Teaching Studios of Art. “We are pleased to be holding this competition for the fifth time. With such beautiful and rich natural vistas, there is no reason for Oyster Bay not to join in the Plein Air painting movement that is sweeping across the country.”

The competition took place over the course of two days, beginning on Friday, September 23. The event culminated in an exhibition of the artists’ work Saturday evening at the Koenig Center of the Oyster Bay Historical Society where Juror Mario Robinson, a nationally renowned artist and author, judged the entries and selected the prizewinners. The exhibition featured the work of the 25 artists completed over the two days of the competition. Most of the artwork was available for sale, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Oyster Bay Historical Society. The exhibition will remain on view at the Koenig Center through November 27 during the following hours:

Tuesday - Friday: 10 am - 2 pm

Saturday: 11 am - 3 pm

Sunday: 1 pm - 4 pm

Closed Monday

Other hours by appointment

For more information about the competition and exhibition, please visit:

www.teachingstudios.com/plein-air-competition-sagamore-hill/

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About The Teaching Studios of Art: Founded in 2009 by the artist Rob Zeller, the Teaching Studios of Art is an art school devoted to teaching traditional techniques to artists of all ages and skill levels on the North Shore of Long Island. These techniques have been proven, over centuries, to be the most effective at helping people become better artists and make beautiful work. The school’s faculty are trained professionals who have achieved a level of excellence in their own practice that qualifies them to teach others. Classes are small, the facilities are excellent, and students receive much personal attention.

About the winners: 1st place winner Tony Winters is a painter and architect living in New York City. His images explore nature and its effect on our inner lives. His hometown--and artistic spiritual home--is Sewanee, Tennessee, site of the University of the South, located on 13,000 acres of the magical Cumberland Plateau. He was selected for the Hudson River Fellowship in 2015 and 2014, and his solo exhibition “Desert River/City River” will open at the Arizona Capitol Museum this October in Phoenix.

2nd place winner Patricia Watwood, native of St. Louis, is a classically trained figurative artist who has exhibited in museum and gallery venues around the world, such as the Beijing World Art Museum, The Forbes Galleries, The Butler, and St. Louis University Art Museum. Watwood has taught at New York Academy of Art, gives lectures and workshops across the country, and is a featured art instructor with Craftsy.com.

3rd place winner Dean Adams is a painter who loves the energy and spontaneity of direct painting. Born in Amman, Jordan. Lives in Weehawken, NJ.