ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

2024 Winners of the Arlington Heights Plein Air Festival

FIRST PLACE

JOHN SHECK

“DOWNTOWN OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS”

WATERCOLOR

SECOND PLACE

STEVE PUTTRICH

“WHISPERS OF AUTUMN LIGHT”

OIL

THIRD PLACE

KIRSTEN CARLSON

“BOARDWALK AT CENTENNIAL PARK”

OIL

STUDENT RECOGNITION

LILLIAN F.

ROLLING MEADOWS HIGH SCHOOL

RAFFLE

Come on in and buy a raffle ticket for only $20 to win a CUSTOM HOME PORTRAIT by Karen Sako! This one-of-a-kind plein-air oil painting has a value of $500, and there are no limits on ticket purchases. This is only available to purchase in The Empty Corner, and the winner will be announced on September 13th! 


All proceeds will go directly to The Good Neighbors Network, which assists under-resourced community members. 

Meet Our Judges

Three established local creatives will be choosing our First, Second, and Third place winners.

  • Gary Drake has a BFA in drawing and sculpture from the University of Iowa and an MA in sculpture from Northern Illinois University. Gary taught Art for 30+ years at Hersey High School before retiring. Gary lives with his wife Pat, in the historic Arlington Heights neighborhood where he is continually creating artwork. 

  • Liz Schrenk owns The Empty Corner and our neighboring studio Something Blue Photography. Liz taught high school Art in District 214 for years and is passionate about supporting the arts in our community. 

  • Pamela Smith is a healer and a multifaceted artist whose talents encompass fiber art, apparel and fabric design, painting, metal smithing, and jewelry design. She currently resides in Arlington Heights where she practices mental health counseling.

Questions?

  • We will NOT be providing canvas or paper. Please bring in your own materials to be stamped!

  • Please bring in your canvases/materials you will be working on to be stamped by a team member on SUNDAY, AUGUST 18TH. Pieces without the stamp will not be allowed or placed in the show. This stamp allows us to know that your pieces were created within the given time frame the festival takes place. (August 18th - August 25th)

  • Please drop off up to three stamped pieces between 1 PM - 6 PM on SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

  • This will be a juried show. Winners will receive prizes at the end of the Opening Reception.

  • The Opening Reception will take place on Friday, August 30th between 7 PM and 9 PM. Join us to see who the winners are!

  • A rule we will be firm on this year is that pieces must be created OUTDOORS. Pieces portraying an indoor scene will not be accepted.