Collectors and visitors to the North Shore of Lake Superior in Cook County, Minnesota were awed by the high quality of paintings produced during this year’s Plein Air Grand Marais. Participating artists from Minnesota and across the United States produced hundreds of paintings during Competition Week in September, weathering intense but beautiful atmospheric effects and early fall color that Lake Superior brings to the Arrowhead region of Minnesota near the Canadian border. Painters’ efforts were rewarded by brisk off-the-easel sales and multiple painting purchasers at three exhibitions during the week for the Open Class, Quick Paint, and final Competition Exhibit reception.
Plein Air Grand Marais 2026 Awards
Juror: Lisa K. Stauffer, PSA-Master, IAPS- Eminent Pastelist, Master Circle; Duluth, Minnesota
Open Class Awards
- Best in Show:
Joel Pieper | Where Turtles Dream | Oil - Three Paintings of Exceptional Merit:
Judith Florell | From Sun to Rain on the Temperance | Water-Miscible Oil
Lisa Kosmo | Tombolo Day | Water-Miscible Oil
Kendall Lotto | Canoes of Menogyn | Pastel - Three honorable mentions:
Stephen Herzog | Sun Fog | Oil
Kurtis Ulrich | Meadow Moment | Oil
Karen Knutson | Rocky Point | Watercolor & Marker
Birney Quick Paint
- Grand Prize:
Jimmy Navarro | Oil - Three Paintings of Exceptional Merit:
David R. Becker | Watercolor
Logan Hudson | Oil
David Smith | Watercolor
Competition Class Awards
- Grand Prize for Best Body of Work:
Bob Upton | Oil - Artists’ Choice Award for Best Body of Work:
Bob Upton | Oil - Seven Paintings of Exceptional Merit:
David R. Becker | Alley at North House | Watercolor & Gouache
Carl Bretzke | Quiet Harbor | Oil
Nelia Harper French | Cascade Hideaway | Oil
Mark Larson | Quiet Harbor | Oil
Gary Olson | The Headwaters | Gouache
LuAnn Widergren | Sunbathing at the Lake | Oil
Jake Zirbes [Nocturne] | Night at the Harbor | Oil
Special Categories
- Best Historic Site:
Erin Renier | Cook County History Museum | Watercolor - Evergreen Award:
Cheryl LeClair-Sommer | Sun Touched Trail | Oil - John Franz Joy of Painting:
Stephen Wysocki | Big Blue Boat! The Kiyi | Oil - Honorable Mentions:
Logan Hudson | North Shore Sundown | Oil
Kami Mendlik | Cascade Falls | Oil
Kelly Schamberger | Sweet Dreams at Naniboujou | Oil
Neil Sherman | The Whisper | Oil
David Smith | The Quiet Current | Watercolor
James Turner | Toccata & Fugue in D Minor | Watercolor
Michelle Wegler | Rock and Roll – and I Like It | Pastel
Michael Zirbes | Dead of Night | Oil
Plein Air Grand Marais is a joint enterprise of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota (OPM) and the Cook County Historical Society, which hosts the Competition Exhibit in one of its historic sites: the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. The nine-day event includes daily paint-outs, workshops with featured competition artists, artist socials, and a traditional hootenanny after the final reception.
Plein Air Grand Marais is unique in its emphasis on artists’ time together. The event is organized by participating artists and proudly attracts nationally recognized talent while welcoming painters of all experience levels.
Organizers were thrilled to use the additional painting sales revenue for increased prize money and a pizza and custard party for the Open Class reception. Plein Air Grand Marais gains momentum every year, drawing artists and collectors from across the United States and Canada.
The Competition Exhibit at Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery is displayed through November 1, 2026.
2027 Plein Air Grand Marais is scheduled for September 10-18, 2027, with a pre-Competition Week painting trip to YMCA Camp Menogyn near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness planned for September 8-10, 2027. Registration will open February 1, and the deadline for Competition Class registration is May 1, 2027. Interested artists and collectors should visit OPM’s web site for the event at outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org and subscribe to the newsletter for announcements and updates.
Story submitted by Allison Eklund / Outdoor Painters Society of Minnesota
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
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