Artists were invited to participate in the 2025 Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show by creating an original plein air painting or drawing of any location within the Schaumburg, IL city limits. While there's no shortage of great locations to inspire your work, we created a map with a few notable locations to get artists started.

The application was closed April 20, 2025.

CLICK HERE for a list of suggested locations

Entry fee was $40 (non-refundable). See our prospectus for complete information.

Works were completed between April 25 - May 9, 2025

Submitted works will be exhibited and for sale in the Herb Aigner Gallery inside the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts May 13 - June 22, and will coincide with the 36^th annual Prairie Arts Festival, which will be held Memorial Day weekend (Saturday and Sunday May 24-25) on the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts. 

Please note that the Municipal Center construction project begins in May 2025 and continues through 2026, so this was the last year to paint the existing Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center!

For more information, contact Roxane Benvenuti or call 847-923-3605. 

Thanks to Blick Art Materials located at 500 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg, where staff members stamped and authenticated the artist’s canvas/board/paper/panel and supplies could be purchased.

2025 Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show Judge: Karen Sako

Karen Sako is a fine artist, graphic designer, and instructor based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. With a BFA in Visual Communications from the Illinois Institute of Art and over 30 years of experience teaching drawing and oil painting, she brings a wealth of expertise to her artistic practice and students. 

A dedicated plein air painter, Karen’s work moves between abstraction and direct observation, exploring light, texture, and the natural world with emotional depth. Her award-winning compositions have found homes in private and corporate collections worldwide, and she is an active member of The Suburban Sketchers of Long Grove, Arlington Heights Art Guild, Barrington Area Artists Association, and the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society. 

Driven by optimism and curiosity, she invites viewers on a journey of artistic discovery—where creativity and passion collide.

2025 AWARD WINNERS

As an artist deeply rooted in plein air, I understand the challenge—and the thrill—of capturing a scene in the moment. I was honored to judge this show, and I have to say the work was incredibly strong. It was a beautiful showcase of not only individual talent, but also the spirit of community and the joy of painting outdoors. The variety of styles, mediums, and perspectives was exciting to see. It’s always a thrill to discover what caught someone’s eye and how they chose to translate that moment through their own unique voice. The diversity made selecting just six awards especially difficult. I was drawn to work that told a story, something that grabbed my attention as I walked through and kept me in the scene. I looked for strong composition, dynamic light, and a sense of place that felt personal and alive.

To all the artists: keep getting out there, keep painting from life. There’s no better way to grow, connect, and bring fresh energy into your work. - Karen Sako

First Place

Judge’s Notes: This piece has a distinct voice and a luminous palette that
 immediately draws you in. The colors work beautifully together, and the brushwork feels confident without being overworked. There’s a great balance—loose and expressive, but still grounded and intentional. The way the light and shadows play across the stream is especially striking, with dappled sunlight that leads your eye through the scene. It’s full of movement, color, and life and is both technically skillful and full of feeling. It's a standout in every sense.

Second Place

Jun Hyuk Son, Acrylic, The Spring at Volkening Heritage Farm, Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary

Judge’s Notes: Warm and cool tones are nicely balanced, with strong perspective and great detail in the stream and tree roots. There’s a storybook charm that feels timeless and welcoming. The composition gently leads your eye through the scene, and the red barns create a clear, visual anchor. Solid drawing and color make it work technically, but it’s the inviting sense of place that really stands out. It feels like somewhere you’ve been—or want to go.

Third Place

Bob Holmes, Watercolor, The Sunbather, Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary

Judge’s Notes: There’s a calm beauty in this painting that really draws you in. The composition is clean, and the way the water and reflections are painted feels both natural and thoughtful. Soft shadows stretch across the surface, adding depth and a sense of time passing. It’s quiet and understated, but full of feeling like a moment of stillness by the water on a sunny day.

Honorable Mention

John Shek, Watercolor, Spring in Schaumburg (Golf Rd), Golf Road by Bahama Breeze

Judge’s Notes: The sky in this painting is soft, full of movement, and painted with a dreamy touch. It brings a quiet feeling that really stays with you. The blossoms are delicate, and romantic that gives the whole scene a poetic quality. There’s charm in its gentleness and a real emotional pull in the way the light, color, and season come together.

Honorable Mention

Andrew Abramov, Oil, Volkening Heritage Farm, Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary 

Judge’s Notes: Bold and painterly, this painting stands out with its
vibrant red barns, expressive, sculptural brushwork and texture. The 
impasto technique brings great energy, and the bold red barns set 
against the blue sky create a striking contrast. It all works beautifully 
thanks to the thoughtful use of neutrals, which help balance the intensity and let the color 
relationships shine. It feels fresh and confident, with strong light and composition. There’s a lot of 
movement and presence here, offering lots of visual punch.

Honorable Mention

Thomas Trausch, Watercolor, Late Afternoon, Volkening Heritage Farm 

Judge’s Notes: This watercolor has fresh, lively brushwork and masterful use of light. The dappled shadows, vibrant garden hues, and loose but intentional marks capture the feeling of a warm day in a blooming backyard. It’s inviting, well-observed, and full of charm. It is beautifully painted without ever feeling overworked.

People’s Choice Award