From Island Farm to Avalon Pier and beyond, 76 artists were seen painting outside on the Outer Banks during Dare Arts’ Fresh – A Plein Air Event, which was held September 2-4.

Painting “en plein air” means “in the open air,” and artists from GA, SC, VA, PA, FL, MD, WV and NC participated in this year’s event, which required them to create new artwork outside between 11:00 a.m. on September 2 and 2:00 p.m. on September 4.

By 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 124 completed plein air pieces had been returned to Dare Arts to be hung in an exhibition that would open that evening at 6:00 p.m. during First Friday in downtown Manteo.

Before the show opened to the public, award-winning representational artist Jeremy Sams from Archdale, NC, spent a couple of hours judging the plein air works created during the event.

“There are so many great pieces in this show,” said Sams. “A lot of the pieces are recognizable places, and you can literally feel the weather, heat and sweat in them. So much talent and so many different styles—I wish I had more awards to give.”

Sams carefully selected the following award recipients:

Best in Show: Chip Hemingway, “Wanchese Work Boats” (oil)

Excellence Awards: Lori Goll, “Morning at Avalon” (pastel), and David Beal, “Avalon Pier” (oil)

Honorable Mentions: Mary Veiga, “Where the Crickets Sing” (oil); Brad Price, “Plein Air 110 Degrees” (oil); Laurie Kopec, “Sunset on the Bay” (oil); and Julia Marler, “Virginia Dare” (graphite)

“There’s a simplification of shapes, and there’s a paradox in the Best in Show piece that really stands out,” added Sams. “You have the colors, the boats and the buildings all complementing each other, and the composition and handling of the paint in this piece are incredible. The textures, from flat and smooth to wet and gooey, create a nice balance that is hard to achieve.”

Artist Chip Hemingway from Wilmington, NC, took home the Best in Show award for the second year in a row.

“I had a blast at the event, and I am very honored to win Best in Show again,” said Hemingway. “I have been eyeing those boats in Wanchese for decades. The composition of the boat scene fit the canvas I had, and it was a good balance of complexity for the painting. When I paint on the Outer Banks, I always look for the clouds, but there weren’t many clouds on this day. The flies were out, and it was hot. I put enough Deep Woods on that it was running down into my shoes. With plein air painting, you have to be prepared for the weather, the elements and the critters, and I was ready. It was a rewarding experience. I always enjoy coming up to the Outer Banks, whether it’s for surfing, architectural work or plein air painting.”

At the exhibit’s opening reception, over 100 guests voted for the People’s Choice Award, which went to Georgia artist Liz Hanfelt for her plein air piece “Days Remembered” (watercolor).

“This was my second time painting in Fresh,” said Hanfelt. “Painting this year was brutal with unrelenting heat, and despite several attempts, none of my paintings really flowed well. On the last morning of the event, I decided to try one more time and painted a scene on the property of two cousins who grew up in Manteo. They had told me stories about their grandfather, who built the Landing House, and what it was like growing up in Manteo during the ’50s. Because of the stories I heard, I decided to paint in sepia, which for me often expresses nostalgia. One of the cousins came to the exhibit opening, which was truly an honor for me. While viewing all of the wonderful artwork displayed in the exhibit, a few people told me how much they enjoyed ‘Days Remembered,’ and it was wonderful to get their feedback. But I was certainly unprepared to find out that many others thought the same. Winning the People’s Choice Award is a huge honor, and coming from people who live here and my fellow artists, it is also extremely humbling. Thank you, Dare Arts, for this opportunity to paint and meet new friends.”

Fresh – The Exhibit will remain on display in Dare Arts’ Courtroom Gallery through Friday, September 25. The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.