The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council (GPCAAC) held a plein air painting contest at the Port Clinton Lighthouse during the annual Port Clinton Lighthouse and Maritime Festival recently, and the winners have been announced.

Artists worked along the Lake Erie shoreline, painting the wooden pier light which was meticulously restored by the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy and placed at Waterworks Park in August 2016.

The top plein air artists were: 1. J. Steve Kelly; 2. Dave Peltier; 3. Nancy Pierce; Honorable Mention, Mark Delong. Eight painters participated in the event and it will return next year, said GPCAAC President Carol Morgan.

En plein air, or plein air painting, is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists.

Next year’s festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 19, at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton.