As the volunteers working the 2026 Plein Air Southwest packed up the exhibit panels and swept the floor, Randall Kirby Cogburn said it best: “Can’t wait to do it again next year, all fun!”
From the organizers:
It was a job well done for the 44 juried artists who participated in the 6-day competition, show, and sale in Galveston, Texas. Mother Nature presented the artists with sunshine, rain, heavy clouds, and wind: Enough to give them a wide variety of challenging painting conditions on the Island.
Our Juror, Bill Davidson, did not have an easy task evaluating the 297 works submitted for his review. Overall results were amazing:
2026 Plein Air Southwest Award Winners
- BEST IN SHOW- Jeff Steiner of Minneapolis, MN, for his watercolor painting “Trolley on 20th.”
- 1st in EXCELLENCE- Jing Zhao of Frisco, TX, for her oil titled “Old Marina.”
- 2nd in EXCELLENCE- Olga Bankston of Franklin, TN, for the oil painting “At Work.”
- QUINTESSENTIAL GALVESTON- The award for the painting that captured the charm of Galveston Island went to Carolyn Lindsey of Cuervo, NM, for “House Boat,” an oil painting.
- BEST USE OF PERSPECTIVE- Gary Frisk of Richmond, TX, for his oil painting “Monrovia Marine Unloading.”
- BEST SEASHORE or SEASCAPE- V. Vaughan of Round Rock, TX, for the oil painting titled “Her Quiet Time.”
- BEST NOCTURNE- Kent Brewer of Waxahachie, TX, for the oil “Alley Nocturne.”
- BEST SUNRISE or SUNSET- V. Vaughan for “Moonset@Sunrise” oil painting.
- BEST WORKING WATERFRONT- Randall Cogburn of Austin, TX, for the oil “Among Giants.”
- BEST IN ARCHITECTURE- Garland Swinney of Splendora, TX, for the oil painting “The Golden Strand.”
- ARTISTS CHOICE- Olga Bankston of Franklin, TN, was selected by her artist peers for the best body of work produced for the 2026 PASW.
The Galveston Historical Foundation hosted the premier yearly event, providing Outdoor Painters Society with regal facilities for the meet-ups and exhibition May 3-9 in the 1859 Ashton Villa, a historic antebellum mansion with plush gardens, in the heart of the Island. In return, GHF received a portion of the art sale proceeds for its outstanding preservation efforts. Ever-evolving Galveston never disappoints with varied scenery for the plein air painter, calling all artists to return for another try, because it is “all fun!”
Learn more about the Outdoor Painters Society at www.outdoorpainterssociety.com.
Looking for ways to improve your painting skills?
Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at the Plein Air Convention & Expo! All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with incredible paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register at PleinAirConvention.com to join us.
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
