Oregon artist Mitch Baird’s painting “A Guiding Nudge” was selected to receive the First Prize award in the November/December 1st Annual PleinAir Salon Competition by judges Kim Lordier and Ned Mueller. Second prize went to Marc Dalessio for his painting “Barn at Turback”, and Third Prize was given to Aaron Schuerr for his painting titled “River Glow.” The judges offered comments about all three of these paintings.

During the 13th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, Ray Roberts received the $5,000 Laguna Plein Air Painters of America Best of Show award from Judge Jean Stern, Executive Director of The Irvine Museum. Other awards were given to Jacobus Baas (the $2500 Laguna Art Museum Award of Excellence) and Josh Clare (PleinAir Magazine Award). Awards were given by the Surfrider Foundation, the Laguna Canyon Foundation as well as the Alliance for Crystal Cove.

We are excited to announce that a number of internationally known plein air painters have already agreed to be instructors and demonstrators during the 1st Annual PleinAir Convention & Expo taking place April 12-15, 2012 at the Red Rock National Conservation Area and the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our special guest will be Richard Ormond, grandnephew of John Singer Sargent and the author of most of the great books on Sargent.

Colorado artist David Santillanes received the Award of Excellence in the Crested Butte Plein Air Invitational (July 15-17, 2011) in Crested Butte, Colorado. Forty-five artists were invited to participate in the event, and Santillanes received the top award for his painting “Evening at Brush Creek.”

Awards in three events that took place during Plein Air Easton, Maryland (July 18-24, 2011) were selected by PleinAir magazine editor Steve Doherty. Camille Przwodek was the top winner in the exhibition at the Academy Art Museum, Bryan Mark Taylor was the First Place winner in the Quick Draw, and both Rebecca Nolte and Jamie Bonan were top winners in the Quick Draw: The Next Generation competition.

What’s the biggest secret to success among top plein air painters? Based on the mountains of empirical evidence we collected, the secret is to carry a roll of paper towels under one’s free arm. Don’t believe us? Just look at how many of the most successful artists apply that technique while working on location.