The eighth annual Carmel on Canvas plein air paint out was held Friday, Sept. 16 to Sunday, Sept. 18 and featured artists in open-air painting exhibition and competition. The event took place on the sidewalks throughout the Carmel Arts & Design District, Midtown Plaza, Monon Greenway, Carmel City Center, Japanese Gardens and Central Park.
“Carmel on Canvas was once again a great success with many talented artists traveling a great distance to create images of our beautiful city landscapes,” Mayor Jim Brainard said. “I want to congratulate the winners and thank all of the participants for helping us to make this annual event one of the best of its kind in the country.”
Photo provided
The Carmel on Canvas plein air event played host to 59 highly acclaimed artists from the Midwest and beyond, including Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and Florida. The artists competed in a variety of plein air contests during the three-day event, registering in a division that matched their skill or age level: professional, non-professional, teen or children. Chicago-based art teacher and artist Steve Puttrich served as the judge.
On Saturday morning, a Quick Paint competition took place at the Carmel Farmers Market at Carter Green. Winners of that contest were selected by visitors to the market, which raised community awareness of the event overall. An Art Fair concluded the weekend on Sunday afternoon, where artists displayed and sold their work to visitors. Artists displayed creations from the Carmel on Canvas event as well as pieces from their broader scope of work.
The awards for the 2022 Carmel on Canvas are as follows:
- Grand Prize ($3,000): Melinda Spear-Huff, Sheridan
- 2ndPlace ($2,000): Don Yang, Chicago, Ill.
- 3rdPlace ($1,500): Thomas Himsel, Brownsburg
- 4thPlace ($1,000): Jeannie Hilfiker, Indianapolis
- Merit Winner: Jeff Baumgartner, Michigan City
- Merit Winner: Sandra Pedrick, Carmel
- Merit Winner: Justin Vining, Indianapolis
- Merit Winner: Mary Ann Davis, Indianapolis
- Merit Winner: Carleen O’Conner-Rivera, Munster
- Merit Winner: Brad Fields, Fishers
- Merit Winner: Wendy Fleury, Union, Ky.
- Merit Winner: Mark Millis, Bargersville
- Merit Winner: Fran Mangino, Venice, Fla.
- Merit Winner: Susan Ritter, Harrysburg, Ohio
Non-Professional Division
- 1stPlace: Melanie Wissel, Carmel
- 2ndPlace: Sepideh Motevasel, Carmel
- 3rdPlace: Stacy Cage, Cicero
- Merit Winner: Ruth Williams, Noblesville
- Merit Winner: Lia Kettenis, Bloomington
Teen Division
- 1stPlace: Avery Guo, Carmel
- 2ndPlace: Ella Guo, Carmel
- 3rdPlace: Polly Thompson, Cicero
Children’s Division
- Merit Winner: Natalie Huff, Sheridan
Quick Paint
- 1stPlace: Anna Afshar, Fishers
- 2ndPlace: Don Yang, Chicago, Ill.
- 3rdPlace: John Erwin, Ingalls
Purchase Awards
- Hotel Carmichael ($250): Jeannie Hilfiker, Indianapolis
- Indiana Design Center ($250): Roxanne Larson, Carmel
- Java House ($250): Fran Mangino, Venice, Fla.
- Bazbeaux Pizza ($300): Brad Fields, Fishers
- Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream ($300): Donna Shortt, Indianapolis
- divvy ($500): Autumn Hunt, Carmel
- Woody’s ($500): Jeff Baumgartner, Michigan City
Many thanks to sponsoring organizations for providing the prize money for this portion of the event.
The Purchase Awards paintings have been presented to each business for display in their establishments. Please stop by the businesses to see the different winning paintings. Best of Show winners from previous years are displayed at All Things Carmel, 110 W. Main St.
In addition to Purchase Award sponsors, thank you to these event sponsors:
- Carmel Arts Council
- Chapman-Osborne Legacy Realtors
- City of Carmel
- Indiana Design Center
- Promote Carmel, Inc.