Bonham, Texas - By all accounts, the inaugural En Plein Air Contest and Auction hosted by the Creative Arts Center of Bonham was a resounding success. This event was a new part of the Red River Arts Fest for the nonprofit art center.
Twenty nine artists from across north Texas registered for the event. Artists traveled from Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Frisco and other communities to Bonham for the two day event.
More than twenty artists checked in on Friday night, May 1 at Neighbors Place Winery. Contest participant brought their canvases, boards and other materials to get them stamped at check in. This is a feature of En Plein Air contests to ensure that participants don’t get an early start. Fifteen artists stayed at the local winery to paint their first piece for the contest. Artists brought their easels, paints and other supplies and tools and spread out across the lawn and patios. A few stationed themselves out front, to paint the front view of the winery.
Saturday morning, May 2, the artists got up bright and early to find new painting and drawing locations across the Bonham area. More than a half dozen set up around the downtown square to capture the historic courthouse, downtown square and Heritage Day festivities. Others went to Lake Bonham, Powder Creek Park, Wise Funeral Home, Carleton House B&B, Casie’s Corner and other locations in the area. Several also captured some of the classic cars that were a part of the Red River Valley Car Show.
By 3 pm Saturday, forty-seven paintings were submitted for the contest. Each artist could submit up to three pieces of art.
Amelia Leslie earned the Best of Show recognition for her oil painting dubbed “The New Courthouse.” Vidya Lakshmi Nikesh Anand won First Place for her soft pastel piece of a field of yellow flowers named “On the Way to Bonham.” Tatiana Murray Suvorova took home second place honors for her oil painting “Bonham Heritage Day Festival.” Susan Annand won third place for her piece “Morning Still Comes.” Megan Reynolds earned honorable mention recognition for her watercolor “Smokehouse.”
Artist Lori Cusick served as the contest judge. Her husband Reggie serves as her art sherpa, carrying her easels and other supplies for her as she competes in En Plein Air events across the country. Reggie sponsored and selected four additional awards, dubbed the Art Sherpa Awards. These awards were given to Art Jones, Chris Cravens, James Gilbreath and Heidi Kidd.
After the awards were presented Saturday evening at the art center, Reggie auctioned off eleven pieces of art from the contest. Other contest pieces were sold from the gallery that night. All entries to the contest are available for viewing at the Creative Arts Center in Bonham until the end of May. Several pieces are also still available for purchase.
One additional contest prize has yet to be awarded. The People’s Choice Award will be announced at the end of the month. Throughout the month of May, community members can stop by the art center to submit a paper ballot for their favorite art piece from the contest.
The center’s normal hours of operation are Tuesday – Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to noon. Extended hours are offered as needed for classes and other events. Admission to the center is free and all are welcome. The center is located at 200 W 5th in Bonham. For more information, call (903) 640-2196 or go to www.CreativeArtsCenterBonham.org.
