The Artisans Village Guild hosted its eighth annual Eatonton One Day Paint Out on Saturday.
Two award-winning plein air artists, Shane McDonald and Celeste McCollough, opened the day by teaching two sold-out workshops, one in a beautiful garden of the historic Hancock home in Eatonton and the other in an interesting historic alleyway in town.
In the afternoon, artists competed in the Eatonton One Day Paint Out, completing in just four hours, paintings made outdoors within one mile of The Artisans Village Art Gallery in downtown Eatonton. Afterward, McDonald and McCollough judged the works, and cash prizes were awarded. Merit awards were funded by a donation in memory of Bill Anderson, a beloved family member of a Guild member.
The judges told the artists during the awards ceremony, “The quality of the work is outstanding.” “You should all stay on your plein air journey.”
First place went to Dana Thompson for “Til Death Do Us Part,” a watercolor of a mature tree in one of Eatonton’s cemeteries. Jan Best won second place with “Trestles,” an oil painting of the iconic railroad trestle in downtown Eatonton. Third place went to Kathy Rennell Forbes for a watercolor painting of the feed mill.
Merit awards went to Hilary Ellwood for “Uncle Remus Cabin,” Nancy Bolen for “Gas Station,” and Beth Callahan for “Iris Haven.” All winning paintings, plus other work created of area scenes last Saturday, are available for purchase at the nonprofit The Artisans Village Art Gallery at 110 W. Marion St., Eatonton. For information on other AVG events, gallery hours, and art classes, visit online at theartisansvillage.org.