The final winners of the 22nd Augusta Plein Air Art Festival were announced on Saturday, May 3, the closing day of the rainy 10-day outdoor event. All the art during this festival is created outdoors or “plein air,” rain or shine. Despite the rain this year, it inspired some winning creations.
(L-R) Artists’ Choice – Carlos Maldonado for “Old Standard Station”,
Best of Show – Paul Schaefer for “Rainbow Waters” and
People’s Choice – Kathy Morrison for “Big Ole Blue.”
Oil Winners: (L-R)
1st – Paul Schaefer for “Rainbow Waters”,
3rd – Gino Santa Maria for “Rolling Fields”;
2nd – Katherine Martinez for “Pup Walk”;
Honorable Mention – Troy Tatlock (Held by Zac Barnes.) for “Mending the Sky”
and Honorable Mention – Zac Barnes for “Barnes Barn.”
Pastel Winners: (L-R)
Honorable Mention – Lorraine McFarland for “Clearing Up At Sugar Creek”;
2nd – Alison Laupp for “Bromalstick Creek”;
3rd – Susan Rogers for “Ducky Day” and 1st for “Clear Sky.”
Acrylic Winners: (L-R)
1st – Carlos Maldonado for “Old Standard Station” and 2nd for “Farm In the Valley”;
3rd – Craig Thomas for “S” and Honorable Mention – “The Landing.”
Watercolor Winners: (L-R)
1st – JQ for “Weekend Market”;
2nd – Jay Kell for “The Bass Will Have to Wait”;
3rd – Kathy Morrison for “Big Ole Blue” and
Honorable Mention – Denny Dowdy for “New Melle.”
The final awards were announced by Lynn Buchheit and Cindy Kedroski, Co-Chairs of the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival. Lynn thanked the 102 artists, including 27 new participants from across the country. Lynn explained that this is a phenomenal community event that relies on the support of Augusta and the surrounding communities to make this happen.
Each of the “Paint-Out” events or workshops was hosted by eighteen different community businesses or members, and each had at least 50 participants, despite the rain. The committee thanked the sixteen $500 sponsors, the three $750 sponsors, and the twelve donors who collectively contributed over $5000 to help with the festival's operations. Thanks also to all the advertisers who placed an ad in the Plein Air booklet, the seven judges, the many host families who opened their homes to artists, and Ebenezer UCC in Augusta for the pancake breakfast for the artists and the community.
A special thanks to all the buyers, browsers, and those who came out to watch the artists. The money raised from this festival supports the work of the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce to promote a healthy cultural and economic community. This includes awarding educational scholarships to local students seeking higher-level education and partnering with the Augusta Heritage Foundation to celebrate the rich cultural history of art and music in Augusta. The committee expressed gratitude for the hospitality and generosity of the community, which plays a major role in the continuing success of the Augusta Plein Air Festival each year.
The Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the 2025 committee members who made this possible: Co-Chairpersons Lynn Buchheit and Cindy Kedroski, along with members Ranko Radoman, Kathleen Turner, Kate Aufderheide, Vicki Gwinn, Susie Snyders, and JoAnn Milster.