Artists were invited to participate in the 2024 Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show by creating an original plein air painting or drawing of any location within the Schaumburg, IL city limit. While there's no shortage of great locations to inspire your work, we created a map with a few notable locations to get artists started.

Entry Deadline: April 21, 2024. 

Entry fee is $40. See our prospectus for complete information.

Works were to be completed between April 26 - May 10, 2024.

Submitted works will be exhibited and for sale in the Herb Aigner Gallery inside the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts May 14 - June 23, and will coincide with the 35^th annual Prairie Arts Festival, which will be held Memorial Day weekend (Saturday and Sunday May 25-26) on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center. 

For more information, contact Roxane Benvenuti or call 847-923-3605. 

2024 Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show Judge: Don Yang
After serving 7 years in the U.S. Army as a medic, Don returned to his childhood dream of living as an artist by training at the American Academy of Art College in Chicago, where he earned a BFA with honors and later an MFA with emphasis on fine art and traditional illustration.

2024 AWARD WINNERS

Plein air painting challenges artists to demonstrate their skill and experience to create compelling work in a compressed timeframe while overcoming conditions which they cannot control.  Last year’s contributors have created memorable works demonstrating skill of the medium, paint handling and balanced presentation en plein air. - Mark B. Cleveland .

First Place

Karen Sako, Oil, Yeargin Creek, Woodland Trail

Judge’s Notes: Abstract shapes and brushworks created a convincing sense of realism of the ‘earth’. It was made possible because of her strong grasp in the fundamentals of value relationship. Bold brushstrokes stay where they lay to enhance the un-manicured appearance of Nature. Reflection of the sky on the creek water in the foreground adds the sparkle to the scene that could otherwise have been too monotonous a color palette.

Second Place

Kathy Smith, Oil, Welcome Home, Heritage Farm

Judge’s Notes: Excellent expression of warm glow of light that befits the title. Simple geometry of shapes kept the mood of the painting calm and soft. And the well-controlled color choices excellently create a gently inviting visual gesture.

Third Place

Brian Sauerland, Pastel, Spring Valley Splendor, Spring Valley Nature Center

Judge’s Notes: The artist has demonstrated the strong skill in handling of the medium of pastel in creating deep sense of distance and sparkle of colors in the foreground. He has handled the difficult format of square composition well by deft placement of diagonals, horizontals, and verticals. 

Honorable Mention

Christiane Bouret, Oil, Outhouse and Lilacs, Volkening Farm

Judge’s Notes: This painting clearly shows the carefully thought-out workmanship of the artist to create an uncompromising sense of focal point. The large foreground shape leads the viewer’s eye to the main structure while strong value/color contrast and impasto treatment of the paint on the lilacs further emphasize its importance. 

Honorable Mention

Cynthia Dybsky, Oil, Late Afternoon Sun Breakthrough, Volkening Farm

Judge’s Notes: This painting represents the very essence of plein air painting; light, color, and air in its most simplistic way on an everyday scene. Concentration of color contrast of red and green, with diminishing peripheries, arrests viewer’s attention to the central point of the composition.  

Honorable Mention

Bob Holmes, Watercolor, Keeping a Watchful Eye, Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary Pond

Judge’s Notes: The artist created a bold design by use of large negative space combined with direct brushstrokes that show his confidence in the craft of watercolor. Strong value contrast and the detail in the foreground enhance the attention to the focal point. 

People’s Choice Award