Next weekend, the Pearl River County Arts League will host its 44th annual Spring Art Show where the public can see and purchase the work of some of Pearl River County’s finest artists.

Each year, participants of all ages submit their entries to a variety of categories.

Prior to the event, a Friday night reception will be held for donors to the Arts League, PRC Arts League publicity chairperson Gail Sheasby said.

Sheasby said the show will be separated in categories of oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, photography and 3-D, which includes art such as wood carving and pottery.

A new category called digital art was added to encourage younger talent to participate, she said.

Bruce Hume will judge this year’s submissions in the categories of watercolor, oil, mixed media and acrylic. Hume is passionate about oil painting but is fluent in watercolor, acrylic, charcoal and his newest medium, Louisiana coffees. Kathleen Des-Hotel will be judging the 3-D and digital art categories. Des-Hotel is a teacher, writer, painter and budding potter who has received several awards in her artistic career.

Awards will be presented for first, second and third places in each category. Judges will also award one lucky winner “Best of Show,” which includes a $300 cash prize. 

A raffle will also be held during the art show to benefit the league’s Margaret Dawsey Scholarship Fund, which is awarded annually to a student majoring in art, Sheasby said. Two pieces will be raffled off. 

“It’s wonderful to see how far our league has come over the years and its definitely growing and improving,” Sheasby said.

The show will be held April 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 15, from noon to 4 p.m. at 408 Carroll St. the KoC Hall.