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Join us for Paint Cedarburg,
our annual plein air painting event.

June 2 –10, 2023

Over 165 plein air artists roam our charming city of Cedarburg and areas in Ozaukee County capturing favorite historical structures, coffee shops and the picturesque countryside. Artists from all over work with oils, watercolors, pastels and more. Paint Cedarburg is nationally recognized as the largest gathering of artists in Wisconsin. Artists leave the comforts of their studios and spend 7 days painting outside…rain or shine. The public is encouraged to interact with the artists as they work and watch as their paintings come to life!

MEET OUR 
ESTEEMED  JUDGES

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Get out of
your comfort zone!

  • Challenge yourself and take your art to the next level. 

  • Enjoy the comradery of fellow artists and experience the challenge of working in different conditions outdoors

  • Over $8,000 in prizes awarded every year

  • Be a part of Wisconsin's largest gathering of plein air artists

  • You'll have the chance to show and sell your work at the Cedarburg Cultural Center (CCC)

  • Appreciate and support the process, talent and courage it takes to participate!

ARTIST INFORMATION & RESOURCES
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Make the most of your Paint Cedarburg experience.

Space is limited and this event is open to the first 165 artists who register.
 

Registration is open for 2023, click here!

artist information and resources

2023

AWARDS

Our Main Event in 2023

Presented Friday, June 9 at 5:00pm 
(following the Artists’ Choice voting)
Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Avenue, Cedarburg

BEST OF SHOW

$3000

Purchase award Cedarburg Art Museum,
sponsored by Ozaukee Bank’s Gift to the Future Fund

2nd Place

$1000

3rd Place

$500

(4) Honorable Mentions

$250 value each

Gift certificates from Blick Art Materials and
Jack Richeson and Company

BEST OF THE CITY OF CEDARBURG:

SANDRA MCCUTCHEON PAPE

1st Place • $500 

2nd Place • $300

3rd Place • $150

(3) Honorable Mentions • $50 each

PAINT THE LAKE

1st Place • $500

Sponsored by Bridget and Matt Deloge
& Katherine 
de Shazer

2nd Place • $300

(2) Honorable Mentions • $50 each

Sponsored by Robert Powell

NOCTURNE

1st Place • $300

2nd Place • $100

(2) Honorable Mentions • $50 each

ARTISTS CHOICE

1st Place • $300

2nd Place • $200

Each artist may only win one of the above awards with the exception of the Artists Choice Award.
Artists awarded more than $550 must complete a federal form W-9 prior to receiving the cash.
Awards and main event
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Our community loves watching you work and buys images of their favorite local shops, mills, waterways, historic homes and buildings, gardens and restaurants! Your sheer presence creates the vibe that sells artwork and makes our event so memorable. Thank you!

We love that you’re here!

What people are saying about Paint Cedarburg…

“What helps set Cedarburg apart from other events is the scale of it all. From the number of artists to the volunteers and the buyers, when this show comes together at the end of the week it is a true spectacle. The beauty of such a large event lies in its coordination and dedication to the fine arts.”

— NATHAN BRANDNER

2023 Event Schedule

2023 PAINT CEDARBURG EVENT SCHEDULE

JUNE 2023

02

FRIDAY

9am to 5pm

TBD

Workshop with Paint Cedarburg 2023 Judge, Hector Acuna.

This one-day plein air workshop

begins with an introduction by Hector at his home/studio in Grafton prior to painting outdoors at a nearby location.

Space is limited to 10 people, so early registration is recommended. Visit Hector’s

website for details.

www.acunaarts.com

8am to 10am

CAM

Welcome to Paint Cedarburg

Check-in & Stamping

Check-in for the day and get your canvases stamped. See the 2023 Artist Handbook for
more information.

SATURDAY

03

8am to 10am

CAM

Check-in & Stamping

Check-in and get stamped for another day of plein air.

2:00pm to 3pm

CCH

Artists set up easels to sell

3:00pm to 5pm

CCH

from Cedarburg

First public sale of 2023

plein air paintings on the lawn of Cedarburg City Hall. If it rains, go to the gymnasium at Cedarburg Community Center

Fresh! 

SUNDAY

04

05

MONDAY

8am to 10am

CAM

Check-in & Stamping

Check-in for day three of Paint Cedarburg

6pm to 7pm

WHI

Artists Social

Hangout and get to know other Plein air artists and network

8am to 10am

CAM

Check-in & Stamping

Check-in and for day four of Paint Cedarburg

6pm to 7pm

WHI

Artists Social

Enjoy mingling with fellow plein air artists and network

TUESDAY

06

8am to 10am

CAM

Check-in & Stamping

Last day to check-in and get canvases stamped.

6pm to 7pm

WHI

Artists Social

Connect with fellow Plein air artists and network

WEDNESDAY

07

8am to 11am

CCC

Painting Drop-off

Get social and connect with your peers.

2:00 to 7:00pm

CCC

Judging

Let the judging begin!

THURSDAY

08

3pm to 5pm

CAM

Artists Soireé

Enjoy mingling with fellow artists, network and have fun. It’s a party after all! Dress is casual.

FRIDAY

2:00pm

CCC

Award Winners

Announced to artists only

2:00pm to 5:00pm

CCC

Collectors Invitational 

Collectors are invited to enjoy coffee and the chance to acquire plein art before it is open to the public.

5:00pm to 8:00pm

CCC

Public Opening Party &

Gallery Sales 

The general public is invited to enjoy the work of Paint Cedarburg participants and purchase some original art to take home.

09

Vote for your favorite!

Artists Choice Voting

CCC

noon to 1:30pm

10

SATURDAY

10am to 5pm

CCC

Public Gallery Sales Continue 

Last chance for the public to purchase plein art from Paint Cedarburg

5:00 to 6:30pm

CCC

Painting Pickup

All participating artists are expected to pick up their wonderful work at this time.

5:00 to 7:00pm

CCC

Plein air in
Cedarburg 
Continues…

Artists must sign up in person to be included in this event. See prospectus for more information.

CAM = Cedarburg Art Museum • W63 N675 Washington Ave

CCC = Cedarburg Cultural Center • W62 N546 Washington Ave

CCH = Cedarburg City Hall • W63 N645 Washington Ave

WHI = Washington House Inn • W62 N573 Washington Ave

CCG = Cedarburg Community Gym • W63 N641 Washington Avenue • Cedarburg, WI 53012

Volunteer Opportunies

Get involved and
help make it happen

Paint Cedarburg requires the work of dozens of volunteers like you! Become part of the creative group that makes the event happen. It’s fun and a great way to meet people in this plein community. Spouses/partners are welcome, too. Click for 2023 volunteer opportunities.

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2022 AWARD WINNERS

Best of Show by Hecktor Acuna (c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

2022 BEST IN SHOW
HECTOR ACUNA | ”Clouds Passing Over Afternoon Walk“ (Oil)

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2nd PLACE
MAIN EVENT

Bethann Moran-Handzlik
“May the Rain Fall Softly" (Oil)
 

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3rd PLACE
MAIN EVENT

Troy Tatlock
“Future Condominiums" (Mixed Media) 

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1st PLACE
BEST OF CEDARBURG

Don Yang
“Late Afternoon Arch” (Oil)

Paula Swaydan Grebel(c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

2nd PLACE
BEST OF CEDARBURG

Paula Swaydan Grebel
“Historic Back View” (Oil)

Pamela Grabber(c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

3rd PLACE
BEST OF CEDARBURG

Pamela Grabber
“Color Chart” (Oil)

James Faecke(c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

1st PLACE
PAINT THE LAKE

James Faecke
“Noon Departure” (Watercolor)

Deborah Rollo (c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

2nd PLACE
PAINT THE LAKE

Deborah Rollo
“Beauty Before the Storm” (Oil)

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Tom Smith(c)2022 Robert M. Powell.jpg

1st PLACE
NOCTURNE

Tom Smith
“Port Washington 2nd Shift” (Oil)

1st PLACE
ARTISTS CHOICE

Todd Schabel
“By a Thread” (Oil)

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Honorable Mention
MAIN EVENT
Tom Linden
“Along Cedar Sauk" (Oil)

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Honorable Mention
MAIN EVENT
Stephen Wysocki “Andy and Katie's Garden" (Oil)

Honorable Mention
MAIN EVENT

Michael Olive
“Evening Ice Cream" (Oil)

2022 Award Winners

New Plein Air workshop opportunity
with Hector Acuna.

Friday, June 2, 2023 | 9am to 5pm | $150

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Join Hector Acuna for a one day workshop. You will learn about his approach to composition, value, and color in his award-winning plein air work. In this workshop, Hector will discuss the strategies of making a compelling image through bold and decisive paint application while promoting good habits that can continue to inform our ways of seeing. Space is limited to only 10 artists. 

workshop
meet our esteemed judges

MEET OUR

ESTEEMED  JUDGES

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Hector Acuna

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“Through painting I aim to make sense of my place in the world and the encounters I share with the people around me.”  – Hector Acuna

Hector Acuna is a local artist and educator from Kenosha, Wisconsin. He studied at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point before completing his Master of Fine Arts from Michigan State University. Hector has exhibited his studio and plein air paintings throughout the US including the Wisconsin Museum of Art, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, Scarabocchio Art Museum, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, and Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Throughout his career, Hector’s art practice has been multifaceted which has included public murals, mixed-media installations, and artist residencies. 

 

He began using gouache and oil paint en plein air as a student in Stevens Point and has continued to incorporate it into his process. Hector’s paintings have been purchased for private and public collections and received numerous awards. In 2022, his painting “Cracked A Few Good Eggs” was awarded Best of Show at the Door County Plein Air Festival. In the Fall of 2022, Hector was an invited guest to speak with artist Charlie Hunter on his Reasonably Fine Art Talk podcast. Hector was nominated as one of three "Artists to Watch" in the 2022 October/November issue of Plein Air Magazine. His work is represented by Pink Llama Gallery in Cedarburg, WI.

DK Palecek

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“What intrigues me most is the symbolism woven in the human brain that allows one simple stroke to suggest an intricate object or a complicated scene. I will never tire of the thrill of that phenomenon.”  – DK Palecek

DK Palecek

“What intrigues me most is the symbolism woven in the human brain that allows one simple stroke to suggest an intricate object or a complicated scene. I will never tire of the thrill of that phenomenon.”

 

I am an oil painter based in Northeastern Wisconsin. I participate in invitational and juried plein air events throughout the US and Ireland. I am a signature member of the AmericanImpressionist Society and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters, and a member of Oil Painters of America and the Portrait Society of America.

 

My fascination with art, with painting, is a fascination with brain science and the power and plasticity of the brain. I focus on the link between the eye and the brain. The brain assimilates volumes of visual information in every moment and can translate it into a feeling or an experience within seconds. For me, painting is this process in slow motion. The challenge is not to lose this glimpse, this feeling, this experience, in the translation. The challenge is to provide just enough information to capture that moment. My ambition is to find that place where a single brushstroke becomes a solitary building or a whole street; a simple path or miles of landscape; the difference between warmth and comfort or solitude and empty space. I paint with this delightful, ceaseless challenge all around me.

Brian Sindler

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“I am driven to create works of art that capture the emotion and feeling of night. The peacefulness in the evening is the mood I’m most interested in conveying. Nighttime is the painter's equivalent to music in a minor key, and I hope when viewers look at my work they feel a sense of calm.” – Brian Sindler

Brian Sindler
A former musician, Brian Sindler did not start painting until his 30s and was at first a figurative and still life artist working in a Picasso-inspired Cubist style. He then trained at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, followed by four years of study at the French atelier-style School of Representational Art. Not long after graduating, Sindler discovered plein air painting, and this has been his genre of choice since. Today the artist’s style is centered on tonalism, while incorporating elements of abstraction, impressionism, and realism. 

 

Sindler’s emotive landscapes are claiming numerous awards at events and festivals nationwide, including the 2018 Gold Medal at the National Society of Painters in Casein & Acrylic’s national exhibition, the 2018 Best of Show at Paint Grand Traverse, the 2015 Best New Artist at Plein Air Easton, and the 2011 Best of Show at the Door County Plein Air Festival. He was chosen as one of Three to Watch in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine and was featured on the cover of PleinAir Magazine.

 

“I am driven to create works of art that capture the emotion and feeling of night,” the artist says. “The peacefulness in the evening is the mood I’m most interested in conveying. Nighttime is the painter's equivalent to music in a minor key, and I hope when viewers look at my work they feel a sense of calm.”

 

Sindler is represented by Peterson Contemporary Art (Bend, OR), Primitive (Chicago), Tvedten Fine Art (Harbor Springs, MI), and Williams Fine Art Dealers (Wenham, MA).

Sponsors
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