June 13-20
The 11th Annual Plein Air West Reading Art Competition, that puts Berks County on canvas, achieved record breaking sales with the addition of local artists and prizes.
Over 50 artists in two categories (Juried and Open) started the week with blank canvases. Artists were required to create on location outdoors from direct observation anywhere in Berks County. By the end of the week over 185 canvases hung in the Olympian Ballroom in West Reading for the Awards Recognition by national renowned St. Louis MO Artist, Lon Brauer.
The event, run by Art Plus Gallery and the Berks Art Alliance, set new records in Preview attendance (200+), prize purse ($7500+) and sales ($20,000+).
Over 50 artists in two categories (Juried and Open) started the week with blank canvases. Artists were required to create on location outdoors from direct observation anywhere in Berks County. By the end of the week over 185 canvases hung in the Olympian Ballroom in West Reading for the Awards Recognition by national renowned St. Louis MO Artist, Lon Brauer.
The event, run by Art Plus Gallery and the Berks Art Alliance, set new records in Preview attendance (200+), prize purse ($7500+) and sales ($20,000+).
The Juried Artists of
PLEIN AIR WEST READING 2026
PLEIN AIR WEST READING 2026
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Lissa Abrams, Stevenson MD
Gregory Blue, West Chester PA Melissa Carroll, Lancaster PA Nanci Charpentier, Baton Rouge LA Patsy Cooner, Stanardsville VA Ann Crostic, Baltimore MD Lori Cusick, Dallas TX Lea Doise, Keswick VA Eliner Tryon Elgin, Bel Air MD David Finnell, Charlottesville VA |
Paul Gallo, Middletown PA
Tarryl Gabel, Poughkeepsie, NY Erin Gill, Bethlehem PA Cindy Harris, Bloomfield NY Donna Hazen-Nance, Broomall PA William Hendricks, Alexandria VA Jane Knighton, Glenwood MD Jim Laurino, Litchfield CT Helene Mazur, Princeton NJ Mary Ann Mengel, Hamburg PA |
Fran Parzanese, Reading PA
Marilyn Rose, West Caldwell NJ Sabrina Schmidt, Chalmette LA Robert Seabourne, Reading PA Russell Slocum, Wyomissing PA Erika Stearly, Kutztown PA Aaron Thompson, Reading PA Patricia Valens, Cornwall on Hudson NY Rachel Van Wylen, Ardmore PA Valentina Yannotti, Canandaigua NY |
JURIED CATEGORY AWARDS
Best in Show: “Corn Ribbons” by Jim Laurino
$1000 Sponsored by the Berks Art Alliance
Second Place: “Your Backyard and My Backyard” by Nanci Charpentier
$700 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Third Place: “Perennial Garden, Reading Arboretum” by Erin Pryor Gill
$400 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Honorable Mention: "Geometry of an Afternoon” by Rachel Van Wylen Poserina
$200 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Honorable Mention: “Simply Bold” by Valentina Yannotti
$200 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Artists’ Choice Award: Lea Doise
$100 Blick Art Materials gift card
People’s Choice Award: Tarryl Gabel
$100 Blick Art Materials gift card
BEST WEST READING AWARD: “West Reading Drug Store” by Aaron Thompson
$1000 Sponsored by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation,
BERKS WATERWAYS AWARD: “Far From the Bayou" by Sabrina Schmidt
$500 Sponsored by the Schuylkill River Greenways Organization
GARDEN ARTY AWARD: “Wild and Delicate” by Lea Doise
$500 Sponsored by Linda & Jim Elliott
REMEMBERING READING AWARD: “Morning Light” by Marilyn Rose
$500 Sponsored by Shelby Davis Hutchison & Sherry Davis
LIGHT OF THE WORLD AWARD: “Morning Walk On The Farm” by Patsy Cooner
$500 Sponsored by Jesse & Jared Prentiss
THE BRIDGES OF BERKS COUNTY AWARD: “Bridge of Cool Waters” by Robert Seabourne
U.Go Anywhere Plein Air Pochade Box Kit Sponsored by New Wave Fine Art Products
AMERICA 250 AWARD: “Jammin’ At The Stone House” by Cindy Harris
$500 Sponsored by the Berks Historical Society
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Berks History Center has designated five sites that
were all active in 1776.
OPEN CATEGORY AWARDS
First Place: “The Value of Farmland” by Kelsey Showalter
$300 and a U.Go Anywhere Plein Air Pochade Box Kit Sponsored by New Wave Fine Art Products
Second Place: $200 “Bridge Glow” by Joanne McIlvaine
Third Place: $100 “Under the Catalpa Tree” by Marie Jones
Honorable Mention: $100 “Wash Day at Kutz Farm” by Amanda D’Agostino
Best in Show: “Corn Ribbons” by Jim Laurino
$1000 Sponsored by the Berks Art Alliance
Second Place: “Your Backyard and My Backyard” by Nanci Charpentier
$700 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Third Place: “Perennial Garden, Reading Arboretum” by Erin Pryor Gill
$400 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Honorable Mention: "Geometry of an Afternoon” by Rachel Van Wylen Poserina
$200 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Honorable Mention: “Simply Bold” by Valentina Yannotti
$200 Sponsored by Art Plus Gallery
Artists’ Choice Award: Lea Doise
$100 Blick Art Materials gift card
People’s Choice Award: Tarryl Gabel
$100 Blick Art Materials gift card
BEST WEST READING AWARD: “West Reading Drug Store” by Aaron Thompson
$1000 Sponsored by the West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation,
BERKS WATERWAYS AWARD: “Far From the Bayou" by Sabrina Schmidt
$500 Sponsored by the Schuylkill River Greenways Organization
GARDEN ARTY AWARD: “Wild and Delicate” by Lea Doise
$500 Sponsored by Linda & Jim Elliott
REMEMBERING READING AWARD: “Morning Light” by Marilyn Rose
$500 Sponsored by Shelby Davis Hutchison & Sherry Davis
LIGHT OF THE WORLD AWARD: “Morning Walk On The Farm” by Patsy Cooner
$500 Sponsored by Jesse & Jared Prentiss
THE BRIDGES OF BERKS COUNTY AWARD: “Bridge of Cool Waters” by Robert Seabourne
U.Go Anywhere Plein Air Pochade Box Kit Sponsored by New Wave Fine Art Products
AMERICA 250 AWARD: “Jammin’ At The Stone House” by Cindy Harris
$500 Sponsored by the Berks Historical Society
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Berks History Center has designated five sites that
were all active in 1776.
OPEN CATEGORY AWARDS
First Place: “The Value of Farmland” by Kelsey Showalter
$300 and a U.Go Anywhere Plein Air Pochade Box Kit Sponsored by New Wave Fine Art Products
Second Place: $200 “Bridge Glow” by Joanne McIlvaine
Third Place: $100 “Under the Catalpa Tree” by Marie Jones
Honorable Mention: $100 “Wash Day at Kutz Farm” by Amanda D’Agostino
