April 25 - 27th 2025
Plein Air Painting
with
Wayne Chunat
Join Wayne Chunat at our next Art Escapes located at Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale Florida
Enjoy three days of acrylic painting instruction, plein air opportunities and great food in a community of artists.
All About the Event
Join award winning acrylic artist Wayne Chunat for a three-day Plein Air workshop at Camp Margaretville.
You will start with a field sketch, compose, transfer or direct draw onto your support, create a value study, add color and finish details.
Purchase Plein Air Painting retreat and optional lodging
Address & Agenda
Located at Camp Margaretville
361 Denton Ave, Auburndale, FL 33823
Day 1: Friday from 1-5pm
We will cover and discuss the ins and outs of painting Plein Air covering basic materials, acrylic mediums, followed by a paint along.
Day 2: Saturday 9-12 & 1-5 Field day
You will venture to various points of interest in Camp Margaretville and paint solo, starting with a field sketch, compose, transfer or direct draw onto your support, create a value study, add color and finish details as Wayne travels among you conducting individual critiques on site.
Day 3: Sunday - Juried Plein Air Quick Draw Competition
You will have the opportunity to participate in a Juried Plein Air Quick Draw competition at Camp Margaretville 9-11 with cash awards.
Wayne J. Chunat, Artist/Naturalist
Wayne J Chunat, an artist distinguished by his profound connection to nature, was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, and spent his formative years in Bedford, a suburb of Cleveland. His journey into the world of art began at the tender age of 14, when an art instructor ignited his passion by taking him to the Cleveland Art Museum to sketch the masters. This pivotal moment steered Chunat towards a lifelong commitment to capturing the beauty of the natural world through his art.
Chunat’s artistic development is unique in that it is predominantly self-taught. He supplemented his natural talent with select courses at Cuyahoga Community College and the Cleveland Institute of Art and participated in workshops led by renowned artists such as Robert Bateman, John and Suzie Seerey-Lester, Arletta Pech, George Wervey, Fred Leech, and David Rankin. His continued education through the SKB workshops in Dubois, Wyoming, further honed his skills, as did frequent visits to the diverse environments of the Cleveland Metroparks.
The essence of Chunat’s work lies in his fascination with ecosystems, particularly the flora and fauna that inhabit them. Driven by a passion for the outdoors, he meticulously develops his pieces through field sketches, photographs, and firsthand observations. His representational style is self-taught, emphasizing his dedication and keen eye for detail. Chunat finds himself particularly drawn to conservation-themed projects, entering and often excelling in various conservation stamp competitions.
In seeking inspiration, Chunat looks up to influential figures such as Robert Bateman, John Seerey-Lester, John Banovich, and Guy Combes. His work has earned him memberships in numerous prestigious organizations, including Artists for Conservation, Lakeland Artists Association, Wildflower Studios in Frostproof, Florida, Bartow Art Guild, Cider Painters of America, Miniature Art Society of Florida, and the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington.
Chunat’s artistry has been showcased in several galleries, with DeGeorge Custom Frames and Gallery being a notable venue. His accomplishments are celebrated across an impressive array of awards and honors, including recent accolades such as the 2024 Finalist Award in the Art Masters Competition and numerous recognitions by the Nature Conservancy, Art and Color 365, Bartow Art Guild, and many more. His winning streak spans decades, illustrating a consistent excellence in his craft.
Wayne J Chunat’s work is a testament to his values and beliefs, particularly his support for conservation agencies and organizations. He aspires to continue inspiring an appreciation for nature and its preservation through his art, reflecting his core belief in the vital role art plays in society.
Known for his dedication to the intersection of art and conservation, Chunat has been featured in major shows and publications, such as the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum’s “We’re Back” exhibition, the Artists for Conservation Exhibition in Vancouver, BC Canada, and the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, PA. Other significant exhibitions include the Virginia Living Museum Wildlife Art Festival, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio Valley Art League in Henderson, KY, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreational Area, and the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
Although Chunat does not list prominent collectors, his art has been widely praised for its authenticity and meticulous representation of the natural world. Outside the realm of art, he enjoys round dancing and has devoted 30 years to working in parks and public lands as a naturalist, park manager, forester, park superintendent, director, and past president of Carroll County Ohio Parks Board.
Wayne J Chunat’s work is a testament to his values and beliefs, particularly his support for conservation agencies and organizations. He aspires to continue inspiring an appreciation for nature and its preservation through his art, reflecting his core belief in the vital role art plays in society.
Awards/Recognition
Tampa Regional Art 2024 Honorable Mention
Art Masters Competition 2024 Finalist Award
Nature Conservancy 2023 Honorable Mention
Art and Color 365
2023 Honorable Mention Human Figure
2023 Honorable Mention Landscape
2023 Artistic Recognition Animals
2024 Artistic Recognition Animals
2024 Artistic Recognition Drawing
2024 Honorable Mention Still life
Bartow Art Guild 2024 Honorable Mention
2023 First Place
2022 Honorable Mention
Camp Mack Plein Air 2022 First Place
Circle Foundation for the Arts 2022 Certificate of Excellence
Wildflower Studios “Capture Florida” 2024 First Place
2022 Best of Show
2022 First Place Plein Air
2021 First Place Plein Air
Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit 2024 & 2018 Nell Dorsey Award
Melvin Gallery Florida Southern College 2018 Third Place
Acrylic Painters USA 2018 Placed Top 10 Nationally
Florida State Fair 2019 Second Place, Plein Air
2020 Third Place, Plein Air
2022 First Place, Plein Air
Florida Traditions, Lake Alfred 2016 Second Place
2019 Honorable Mention
2020 Best of Show
2021 Award of Merit
2022 Honorable Mention
2024 Second Place
Florida Strawberry Festival 2024 Second Place Prof Acrylics
2023 Second Place Miniatures
2022 First Place Prof. Acrylics
2020 First Place Miniatures
2019 First Place Prof. Acrylics
2018 First Place Prof. Div.
2017 Third & Fourth Place, Prof. Div.
2016 Business Leaders Choice
Frostproof Plein Air 2021 First Place
Contemporary Art Gallery Online 2022 All Animals Best in Show
2021 Social conscious Award
2020 All Animals Competition Winner
2017 Third, Fourth Place, Animals and\Landscape
2016 Fourth Place Animal Art
2014 Third place Landscape
Ridge Art Society, Winter Haven, FL 2018 Award of Excellence
2017 Honorable Mention
2016 Honorable Mention
2015 Second, Third Place
2014 Honorable Mention
2013 Award of Excellence
St Augustine, FL Miniature Show 2016 Honorable Mention
2014 Honorable Mention
Lakeland, FL Art Guild 2024 Merit Award
2023 Third Place
2021 Artistic Excellence
2020 Third Place
2019 Best of Show
2018 Fourth Place, Third Place
2017 Merit Award (2)
2015 Merit Awards and Peoples’ Choice
2015 Third place Professional
Miniature Society of Florida 2015 Honorable Mention
Richeson75 International Art Competitions 2021 Small works2019, 2018, 2016,
2014 Meritorious Award, Animals
Paint the Parks National Competition 2013 Honorable Mention Miniature
Bartow Art Guild/Aviation 2022 Honorable Mention
2023 Honorable Mention
Cider Painters of America 2021, 2013 Excellence in Acrylics
2022 J&L Law Office Award
2024 Country Award
Oceanside Arts Council 2013 Second Place
Wyoming Fish and Game Commission 2013 Honorable Mention
Ridge Art Association Miniature Show 2013 Award of Excellence Printmaking