Awards Celebration – free and open to the public
Saturday, May 16 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Free & Open to the Public
At 6:00 PM, the doors open to the public for a festive Awards Celebration honoring the artists and their work. Friends, family, and art lovers are invited to join in an evening of music, community, and artistic excellence.
The celebration features:
- Public viewing and opportunities to purchase available competition paintings, including many being seen for the first time during the event
- Live music throughout the evening
- Cash bar featuring wine, beer, and a specialty cocktail
- Food trucks on site
- Juror Russell Jewel sharing remarks on the award-winning pieces
Russell Jewell is a nationally recognized watercolor painter and educator. He has served as a faculty member for the Plein Air Convention & Expo and is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.
Best of Show, Edisto Plein Air (2025)
Best Light, Mountain Maryland Plein Air (2025)
Best Watercolor, Plein Air Easton (two-time winner)Russell’s work has traveled with exhibitions of the American Watercolor Society and is widely respected for its mastery of light and atmosphere.
Jewell’s accomplishments include a doctorate in Art Education from the University of Georgia and a Fulbright Memorial fund scholarship to Japan. J Judged Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Watercolor Society 2024, Judging North Carolina Plein Air at New Bern 2026. Jewell has a US patent on a his own plein air viewfinder
Artwork sales will remain open throughout the celebration.