SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. — Friends of the Smokies, an official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, brought 20 nationally acclaimed artists to the park to paint “en plein air,” which is the practice of painting landscapes outdoors, for the inaugural Plein Air in the Smokies on Sept. 26 through Oct. 2.
The event generated over $270,000 and included five days of in-park painting, a “quick draw” competition and private and public art sales.
Art was judged at the Oct. 1 reception.
Bill Farnsworth won Best of Show for his oil painting “Rock Mosaic.”
Charlie Hunter won the Body of Work category.
Christine Lashley was awarded Best Water for her oil painting “Aqua Pool, Tremont."
John Guernsey’s oil painting “Blue House in the Woods” placed first in the Best Structure category.
Neal Hughes won Best Use of Light for his oil painting “Morning Light.”
Carl Bretzke was awarded Best Landscape for his oil painting “Morning in the Smokies.”
Friends of the Smokies Senior Special Projects Director Lauren Gass said Plein Air in the Smokies will be an annual event and artists will be selected through a juried process in 2023.
“This was truly a partnership between the artists, the National Park Service, Friends of the Smokies and the surrounding community, which included art collectors, business sponsors, individual supporters, local artists, volunteers and Maryville College," Gass said.
