Wow!! The Inaugural Art Battle Wichita Falls was outstanding! Only two more to go until the City Champ is crowned and we will send them off to represent our fair city and the Wichita Falls Art Association (WFAA) in the regional competition. What a way to kick off the WFAA’s year-long 70th anniversary party!
When we began this crazy Art Battle journey in April, we hoped for 100 people to attend, prayed for at least 50, and wound up with more than 300 people in attendance! The atmosphere was electric and excitement filled the air. Jason Mayfield and Mayfield Events did the lights and sound – the painters had their own stage lights and the music played as the brushes danced across the canvasses to a 20-minute beat of painterly frenzy – all the while being led by the guiding voice of Ann Arnold-Ogden, our fearless MC, as she walked amongst the crowd, directing each and all throughout the night.
Artists Vickie Milam-Milligan, Jesse Baggett, Sierra Archer, Matthew Turner, Teresa Lopez, Tiffany Estes, Jason Slagle, Gaya, Aaron Campbell, Chris Mayfield, Ronald Hamer, and Audra Lambert were the first artists to test the waters, and test them they did. The battle heated up in the second round with six painters narrowing down to the third round of four painters with the winners picked by digital voting by everyone attending. The voting was very close and the four artists advancing to the third round were Jesse Baggett, Teresa Lopez, Jason Slagle, and Aaron Campbell. After the third round, Jesse Baggett was crowned the winner of the night.
But wait…there was also a silent auction of all of the paintings and they all were sold! And the artists received 50% of the proceeds – so they all were winners! And Jesse will advance to the final Art Battle Wichita Falls for 2019 and compete for the city championship November 9.
Our second Art Battle Wichita Falls is Saturday, August 17. Twelve new artists will compete again with the same format.
Same time:
Door opens at 5:00 p.m.; painting starts at 6:00 p.m.
Same place:
The Warehouse, 1401 Lamar, Downtown Wichita Falls
Same pizza:
Stone Oven Downtown
Same cash bar: The Warehouse
NEW TREAT: Lolly’s Cookies!
Same price: $15 Early Bird; $20 after August 10 (go to artbattle.com or Eventbrite.com for tickets)
New this time:
Limited reserved ringside tables for eight people for $200 total (contact Bob Barrow if interested at
If you missed the first one, you don’t want to miss it this time! See you August 17!
