Bay Transit Director, David Fols, congratulates artist Doug Mock for his first place win in RAL’s 2025 Art in Transit 5.0 competition.

The Rappahannock Art League (RAL) Art Center and Bay Transit, the public transportation division of Bay Aging, proudly announced the winners of the 2025 Art in Transit competition during a lively awards ceremony held on May 30 at the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock.
The evening’s highlight was the grand unveiling of the first-place winner’s artwork, beautifully wrapped on the side of a Bay Transit bus, ready to brighten the streets of Kilmarnock. This year’s competition drew a record-breaking 57 entries, showcasing extraordinary talent in a range of artistic media.
Doug Mock, an award-winning artist, teacher, and signature member of both the Virginia and the Southern Watercolor Societies, captured first place with his watercolor painting, “Splish Splash.” His piece vividly portrays two joyful children swimming in a lively, splash-filled composition. “Upbeat and people-centered, for me this captures the spirit of the place,” said one of the judges for the contest. “And with the perfection of the technique,” added another, “it’s a perfect first place.”
As part of his prize, Mock’s painting has been reproduced and displayed on a Bay Transit bus, in addition to receiving a $1,000 prize. Mock also successfully sold his original painting to a new collector at the event.

Second place and a $750 prize went to Brenda Sylvia for her acrylic painting “Catching Joy,” featuring a vibrant landscape of a lone kayaker proudly displaying a catch. “Bold in color choice and easy to read from a distance, the piece feels reflective and salvatory all at once,” a judge noted. “The colors make the piece pop,” another added. “Technically, they got all of the perspective correct – which is hard to do when you’re dealing with a landscape, a person, and a fish.”

Bob Casazza earned third place with “Into the Mystic,” an acrylic piece depicting a shorebird, sea turtle, and seagull at the water’s edge. “You really get a sense of their personalities,” said the judge. “Technically, it’s a really well-done painting,” agreed another judge.
Both Bay Transit and the RAL Art Center are non-profits, and proceeds from entry fees, art sales, and sponsorships directly support valuable community programs. Bay Transit’s proceeds fund a community college scholarship program for its frontline employees and the New Freedom

Brenda Sylvia won second place with her piece, “Catching Joy.”

Bob Casazza won third place with his piece, “Into the Mystic.”