ColorFest, the annual art and craft festival in Dillsboro, had around 4,000 attendees at this year’s event, which was held on Oct. 4.

With funds donated by Champion Credit Union, the Dillsboro Merchant’s Association was able to provide the cash prizes awarded to the winning artists. 

The winners included:

• Best in Show — Cory Houston Plott, pottery turned on manual wheel in parts with applied design and glazed with traditional wood ash glaze.

• First Place Fine Art — Char Avrunin, encaustic and oil portrait using traditional old master techniques in the portrait on a contemporary abstract background done with layers of wax mixed with oil paint.

• Second Place Fine Art — David Vanderlaan, giclee on wrapped canvas of multiple photos of dead trees PhotoShop manipulated into a design.

• Third Place Fine Art — Jack Stern, oil painting of local landscape on canvas.

• First Place Craft — Martha Kelly, embroidery and quilted nativity with silk border.

• Second Place Craft — Joan Stocker, loom beaded face with fringe.

• Third Place Craft — Lou Ball, wood carving of gorilla.

• Honorable Mentions Fine Art — Doreyl Ammons Cain, acrylic painting; Tara Miller, encaustic and mixed media.

• Honorable Mentions Crafts — Susan Coe, pottery; Johanna Ohly, raku vase with carved leaves; Becca Irwin, cobalt blue vase with lid and crystalline glaze; Jane Payne, beaded and stone collar necklace.