Last Saturday, under an umbrella of rain, the second annual Steveston Grand Prix of Art was heralded in by one long blast of an air-horn.
Then, 65 artists from across B.C., including 19 youth artists, were off racing to their designated spots around Steveston and Garry Point to begin the three-hour art competition.
A large crowd of onlookers observed the artists as they painted scenes of Steveston.
Organizer and founder, Mark Glavina, was thrilled with the competition and the turnout.
"It went really well," Glavina said. "Around 1,200 people visited the 30 artist locations.
Then, on Sunday more than 500 people visited the exhibition and sale at the Britannia Heritage Shipyards."
Local artist Loraine Wellman took part in the friendly competition and volunteered during the exhibit sale.
Wellman and her easel were located opposite the Steveston Hotel.
"I ended up painting Rod's Lumber," she said.
"I think it's the best event for artists in the Lower Mainland."
Meanwhile, Wellman said 10 paintings, ranging in price from $50 to $650, were sold that day.
"One of our youth painters sold their first painting," added Wellman, who is also the Richmond Artists Guild vice president.
For more information, visit www.grandprixofart. com.
The winners
1st place: Kerry Erickson 2nd place: Michael Abraham 3rd place: Larry Tiller Honourable Mention: Jim McFarland (Victoria)
Youth winners
1st place: Shirley Lui 2nd Place: Kitty Man 3rd Place: Emma Sun Honourable Mention: Roena Ong
People's Choice Award
Stephen Shaoqin Chen.
Angela Soon (above) of Britannia Heritage Shipyards blasts an airhorn to start the grand prix. The horn sounded simultaneously with the Georgia Cannery Museum's hourly horn. Barb Hillier
