Last Saturday, April 13, 42 artists from around Mississippi gathered for the En Plein Air Painting Competition at Flowood Nature Park to compete for a chance to win cash prizes and publication in Mississippi Outdoors Magazine. Artists spread across the park, creating unique works inspired by what they saw. Thank you to Basil’s Killer Eats for sponsoring the artist and volunteer lunch.

Judging took place at Pacesetter Gallery by renowned Mississippi Artist Bill Wilson. “As Artist in Residence at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, from 2017 to 2019, Bill Wilson painted more than sixty plein air paintings covering the mansion that was published as a coffee table book. His work in portraiture, illustration, and all competing mediums brought great expertise in judging the plein air show, and we were excited to have that expertise on hand,” states Keri Davis, the owner of Pacesetter Gallery. The En Plein Air Exhibition can be viewed or purchased from April 13 to April 30 at Pacesetter Gallery at 310 Ridge Way in Flowood and through the online exhibition at pacesettergallery.com/events. The gallery is open Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Winners of the En Plein Air competition are as follows:

  • Best of show – Linda Peters (Oxford) – Oil painter
  • 2nd place Professional Division – Feixue Yang (Madison) – Watercolorist
  • 3rd place Professional Division – Susan Wellington (Flowood) – Oil painter
  • 4th place Professional Division – Kayla Walker (McComb) – acrylic painter/mixed media
  • Honorable Mention, Professional Division – Mark Millet (Ridgeland) – Watercolorist
  • Honorable Mention, Professional Division – Cary Haycox (Meridian) – Acrylic painter

 

  • 1st place Amateur Division – Lewis Griffin (Hattiesburg) – Watercolorist
  • 2nd place Amateur Division – Katy Nave Kemalyan (Starkville) – Watercolorist
  • 3rd place Amateur Division – Phil Pringle (Madison) – Oil painter
  • 4th place Amateur Division – Kay Meadows (Brandon) – Acrylic painter
  • Honorable Mention, Amateur Division – Janice Kraft (Canton) – Oil painter
  • Honorable Mention, Amateur Division – Mary Keith ( Madison) – Oil painter

Due to flooding, the event was moved from LeFleur’s Bluff State Park to Flowood Nature Park, with great support shown by the City of Flowood and Mississippi State Parks.  

The Wine and Cheese Opening included 58 pieces of work from the artists created that day, a charcuterie spread created by Zetella Gooch of Gooch Consulting and Event Services, and cookies donated by The Whimsy Cookie in Ridgeland.

Additional sponsors for the event were Gold Sponsors: Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District, Community Bank, Complete Exteriors, Silver Sponsors: Pyron Insurance, Occupational Consulting LLC Kathy Smith/Alderman, Nebletts Frames Bronze Sponsors: Magnolia Travel Group-Cindy Prince, Beanfruit Coffee Company, Additional Sponsors: The Mississippi Artists’ Guild and The Flowood Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about Mississippi State Parks, visit www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations or call (601) 432-2400. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/msstateparks or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/msstateparks/

For more information on Pacesetter Gallery, visit www.pacesettergallery.com or call 601-488-0345. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pacesettergallery or https://www.instagram/pacesettergallery Creative events calendar available at pacesettergallery.com/events

The mission of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks is to conserve and enhance Mississippi’s wildlife, fisheries, and parks; provide quality outdoor recreation, and engage the public in natural resource conservation.

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