Leland’s Old Art Building has announced the winners of its “Leland Air” event, which was held late last month. The event, now in its 12th year, invites painters from throughout Michigan to the Old Art Building for a day of plein air painting. In the art world, the term “plein air” describes painting that occurs outdoors.

Leland Air this year featured 50 different painters, who spent a full afternoon on Saturday, May 25 painting outside before returning to the Old Art Building “and hanging their fresh-off-the-easel pieces” for an evening reception and exhibition. Per a press release from the Old Art Building, total sales from the 2024 Leland Air event netted participating artists more than $10,000.

In addition to the opportunity to sell their works, artists and their works were also considered for Leland Air awards, which have now been announced. Lindy Bishop, an oil painter who splits her time living in Traverse City and Key West, Florida, clinched “best-in-show” honors for her painting, called “Kalchik Orchard.” Artists Justin Shull and Lisa Yontz won second and third place, respectively, for their paintings “River View” and “Fish Direction,” while Adam VanHouten was the people’s choice award winner for “Beach Blues.”

Honorable mentions were given to Mary Guntzviller (“Talk of the Town”) and Stephanie Schaltter (“Van’s Beach”).

Pictured: Left, Lindy Bishop poses with her first-place-winning 'Kalchik Orchard; Right, Justin Shull's 'River View' (top), Lisa Yontz's 'Fish Direction (center), and Adam VanHouten's 'Beach Blues' (bottom)