Art League of Ocean City Announces Winners of “Artists Paint OC Festival and Competition 2026”

OCEAN CITY, MD — Septmeber 1, 2026 — The Art League of Ocean City announces the winners of the 21st annual “Artists Paint OC Festival and Competition,” held August 13–17, 2026. During the festival, 48 professional plein air artists competed in the main event, painting local landscapes for four days, while 30 artists competed in Sunday’s two-hour Quick Paint event. Local children also joined in, with 300 youth ages 6–17 painting “en plein air” during the month as part of the 4th Annual “Kids Paint OC” program. The artists completed more than 200 paintings and competed for more than $11,000 in prize money.

On the weekend of August 15 & 16, artists brought their best work to the Ocean City Center for the Arts to be evaluated by juror Kevin Fitzgerald. A celebrated Maryland artist with more than 30 years of experience, Fitzgerald draws inspiration from the traditions of master painters, and his work has been exhibited and collected both nationally and internationally.

The top award, First Place and $2,500, went to Jessica Schlegel for her watercolor Between the Pilings, sponsored by PNC Bank. Second Place and $1,500 was awarded to Kathryn Engberg for her oil painting Delaney on the Bay, sponsored by the Art League of Ocean City. Third Place and $1,000 went to Mary Veiga for her oil painting Hope Rises, also sponsored by the Art League.

The Spirit of Ocean City Award and $1,000 went to Catherine Homens for her pastel Wishful Thinking, sponsored by the Town of Ocean City. The Beach to Bay Heritage Award and $500 was presented to Al Richards for his pastel The Lizzie Bishop House, sponsored by Beach to Bay Heritage. The Best Hospitality Award and $500 went to Siobhan Duggan for her oil painting Cup or Cone, sponsored by the OCMD Hospitality Association.

The Artists' Choice Award in Memory of Ray Ewing and $500 was awarded to Donna Brumbergs and Kathryn Engberg, sponsored by Laura Jenkins. The Best Agribusiness Award and $250 went to Mick McAndrews for his watercolor The Plein Air Painter, sponsored by Agriculture Families. The Best Use of Light Award and $200 was presented to Gavin Bromell for his oil painting Sailor Bay Produce, sponsored by Crystal Collins.

The Best Maritime Award and $200 went to John Eiseman for his oil painting Harbor Sunbreak, sponsored by Emmy Challenger. The Best Nocturne Award and $200 was awarded to Donna Brumbergs for her oil painting Welcome to Grove Market, sponsored by Ginny Outten.​

The Art League also awarded five Honorable Mentions, each accompanied by a $150 prize. Mimi Little received Honorable Mention for her acrylic Marsh Magic, sponsored by Berta Maginniss. Jacki Yamin received Honorable Mention for her acrylic Almost in the Water, sponsored by Marian Bickerstaff. Greg Cannizzaro was recognized for his watercolor Protecting My Baby, sponsored by the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association. Additional Honorable Mentions went to Liz Maynes for her oil Berlin Pines and Nancy Fine for her oil Dunes to Beach sponsored by Laura Jenkins.

Quick Paint Competition

The Quick Paint two-hour competition took place Sunday morning on the south end of the Ocean City Boardwalk, with artists capturing the sights and energy of Ocean City. Sponsored by the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), the event was judged by Evan Fitzgerald, a MICA graduate and James Madison University MFA who is known for realistic figures adorned with natural elements and has taught at Salisbury University and painted murals throughout the coastal region.

First Place, $350, went to Mary Veiga for her oil painting Daze at the Beach. Second Place, $200, was awarded to Ronaldo Dorado for his watercolor Ocean View, while Third Place, $100, went to Maggii Sarfaty for her oil painting Ray’s View. Jose Ramírez received an Honorable Mention, $50, for his watercolor Thrashers Corner.

A special thank you goes to the Ocean City Development Corporation for generously sponsoring the Quick Paint awards and supporting the arts in the community.

Kids Paint OC

The 4th Annual Kids Paint OC drew entries from 300 young artists ages 6–17, and judges Tamara Mills, David Simpson and Sav Chisolm selected winners in three age categories. The Art League of Ocean City, the Worcester County Arts Council, and John Sisson sponsored Kids Paint OC.

In the ages 6–9 category, Hadley Metzger took First Place, Beau Baunhofer took Second Place, and Austin Schisler took Third Place. Rising Star honors were presented to Annaleigh Martin, Milo Guerriero, and Ella Barbagallo.

In the ages 10–12 category, Owen Schisler took First Place, Tobias Blaska took Second Place, and Archie Martin took Third Place. Honorable Mentions went to Dorothy Varga, Mason Wharton, and Brooke Dyshuk.

In the ages 13–17 category, Carson Guertler received First Place, Jordana Smith received Second Place, and Sam Guertler received Third Place. Honorable Mentions went to Leo Caldwell, Ellie Hall, and Avery Weir.

Congratulations to all of the Kids Paint OC winners and every young artist who participated. The program showcased the creativity, imagination, and talent of Ocean City’s next generation of artists.

Thanks also to Island Creamery for sponsoring the Ice Cream Social. Through a generous donation from the Freeman Arts, children also received free to-go art crafts to continue creating at home.The Art League thanks everyone who helped make this year’s Kids Paint OC a fun-filled celebration of creativity and community.

The public may view and purchase the original paintings from the Artists Paint OC event in the Sisson Galleria of the Ocean City Center for the Arts on 94th Street bayside through September 27, 2026.

More information is available at OCart.org or by calling 410-524-9433.

The Art League of Ocean City is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs and community art projects. Funding for this event is in part provided by the Maryland State Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts, organizations dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.