Winners of the 10th annual Capitola Plein Air Exhibition and Sale were announced in November after a weeklong outdoor painting event that culminated in a public exhibition, sale and awards presentation.
Larisa Anaya
Artists competed for a $1,000 grand prize sponsored by local hotelier Dan Aspromonte. The final exhibition featured live music from local band Cement Ship, all-ages art activities hosted by Art Factory Studios and sponsor Palace Art & Office Supply, food and coffee from El Cafecto, a public raffle tied to artist “trading cards,” and a display honoring the nine previous first-place winners to mark the event’s 10th year.
Organizers said the milestone year drew nearly 700 people to the exhibition and produced record-breaking sales. A Quick Paint event held Saturday on the Capitola Esplanade attracted more than 150 spectators.
The Quick Paint People’s Choice award went to Victoria Galitzine for Sandwich Thief. During the Quick Paint, Capitola Mayor Joe Clarke issued a proclamation recognizing the artists and organizers who helped establish Capitola Plein Air as a long-running community event. Former organizer Laurie Hill joined Clarke to accept the proclamation. Current organizer Jaquelyn Johnson recognized past leaders during an artist reception at the Historic Shadowbrook Restaurant.
Judging was conducted by Ryan Reynolds, chair of art and art history at Santa Clara University; Sheryl Knight, a signature member of five national art organizations; and Samantha McNally, past president of the California Watercolor Association.
The winners were:
- First place: Carol Tarzier, Evening Fog
- Second place: Lisa Zylstra, New Brighton Haze
- Third place: Cathy Xu, 4 o’clock Magic
- Honorable mentions: Larisa Anaya, Spring Leaves Here; Mila Kirillova, Under the Trestle; Meisha Grichuhin, Rising Mist
- Artist’s Choice: Cathy Xu, 4 o’clock Magic
Xu, a first-year participant, said she was moved by the welcome artists received in Capitola. The Exhibition People’s Choice award went to Marie Massey, a nine-time Capitola Plein Air participant, for Sunset Over Capitola. Massey said the city continues to offer abundant inspiration for plein air artists.
Tarzier, the grand prize winner, encouraged artists to take advantage of fleeting moments outdoors, saying painters should “seize the day … and paint it before it changes.”