En Plein Air Texas - OutdoorPainter.com
Stampede party-goers awaiting the awards presentation with the 68 competition paintings in the background.

A whirlwind week of over 400 paintings about West Texas has come and gone! See who took home awards from En Plein Air Texas this year.

A whirlwind week of over 400 paintings about West Texas has come and gone! Over $22,000 in cash awards and $21,000 in national vendor certificates and merchandise were presented to artists who brought San Angelo some real cultural treasures after their week of painting here. It was a wildly successful week for the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, as well as for the artists.

Winning the Grand Prize, the Elta Joyce Murphey Award, was Hiu Lai Chong of Rockville, Maryland, with her sunset-inspired painting of the sidewalk in front of Eggemeyers.

Winners:

Hiu Lai Chong, “Sunset on Block One”
The Elta Joyce Murphey Grand Prize. Sponsored by Elta Joyce McAfee and PleinAir Magazine.

Thomas Kitts, “Aged to Perfection”
2nd Place Award sponsored by Camille Santry & Ike Sugg and Western Art & Architecture Magazine.

Zufar Bikbov, “Twin Buttes”
3rd Place Award sponsored by Shirley & Mike Oliphant and Western Art Collector Magazine.

Qiang Huang, “Block One in the Rain”
Artists Choice Award sponsored by Tina & Douglas Bean and PleinAir Magazine.

Thomas Kitts receiving the award
Zufar Bikbov receiving the award
Qiang Huang receiving the award

The artists winning the top four awards above are automatically juried into the 2020 En Plein Air Texas Competition next year!

You’ll find the rest of the winning photos at www.enpleinairTEXAS.com.

Here is a complete list of all the 2019 En Plein Air Texas Winners:

GRAND PRIZE, Hiu Lai Chong, “Sunset on Block One”
Sponsored by Elta Joyce McAfee & PleinAir Magazine
2nd PLACE AWARD,Thomas Kitts, “Aged to Perfection”
Sponsored by Camille Santry and Ike Sugg & Western Art & Architecture Magazine
3rd PLACE AWARD, Zufar Bikbov, “Twin Buttes”
Sponsored by Shirley and Mike Oliphant & Western Art Collector Magazine
ARTISTS’ CHOICE AWARD, Qiang Huang, “Block One in the Rain”
Sponsored by Tina and Douglas Bean & PleinAir Magazine
TEXAS PRECIOUS WATER AWARD, Qiang Huang, “Concho Jewels”
Sponsored by Mark McLaughlin & American Art Review Magazine
TEXAS RANCHLAND AWARD, Charlie Hunter, “Sheep Shed, Bowen Ranch”
Sponsored by Cynthia and Jim Quinn, Anne Shahan, & Southwest Art Magazine
SPIRIT of SAN ANGELO AWARD, Richie Vios, “San Angelo Downtown”
Sponsored by Deborah and Russ Weatherford & JFM Frames
MUSEUM PURCHASE AWARD,Gary Frisk, Angelo Pellets
Sponsored by Melinda Rose, Lee & Patrick Moore, and Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine
BEST ARCHITECTURAL PAINTING AWARD, Neal Hughes, Rowena Gin & Mims Truck
Sponsored by Lydy Tabor, Tabors of San Angelo, & Outdoorpainter.com
AWARD OF DISTINCTION, Carla Bosch, “Beauty on Highway 208”
Sponsored by Ellen Lassetter and George Shankle, JFM Frames & Golden Paint
AWARD OF DISTINCTION, Bill Farnsworth, “Concho Green”
Sponsored by Dr. William and Randi Buche, Guerrilla Painter & Michael Harding

MINI-PEARLS of the CONCHOS AWARDS Sponsored by Fran & Tom Gregg
5 Judge’s Choice Awards

DK Palacek – $500 plus Jack Richeson & Co gift certificate
Richard Sneary – $500 plus Maimeri gift certificate
Bill Suys – $500 plus Daler-Rowney gift certificate
Chris Willey – $500 plus RaymarArt gift certificate
Todd Williams – $500 plus Jack Richeson & Co. gift certificate

STRAY CALF AWARD, Mat Barber Kennedy, Rowena Service Station
Sponsored by Lauren and Rob Watkins plus Michael Harding Paints & Guerrilla Painter gift certificate

ROPING PAINT-OUT ~ JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARDS Sponsored by Carrie Pearson & Doris Jones

COMPETITION ARTISTS
Jill Basham – $500 plus Golden Paint gift card
Bill Farnsworth – $500 plus JFM Frames gift card
Susan Lynn – $500 plus Canson/Strathmore gift card
Irina Rybakova – $500 plus Golden Paint gift card

NON-COMPETITION ARTISTS:
Edna Krueger – $300 plus Jack Richeson gift card
Jason Sacran – $300 plus Gamblin Oil Color Set

ARTIST CHOICE TEXAS ARTIST CAMP AWARDS (4-way tie) Sponsored by Linda Gober
Krystal Brown – $500 plus Blick Art gift card
Charlie Hunter – $500 plus Blick Art gift card
Christine Lashley – $500 plus Blick Art gift card
Irina Rybakova – $500 plus Blick Art gift card

Thank you to Lee & Patrick Moore, Treva & Mike Boyd for additional sponsorships of additional awards.

A big thank-you to our local and national sponsors, our amazing volunteers, the host homes who keep our artists, and to the patrons who came to watch and meet the artists and who purchased paintings. The artists donate back a nice portion of each sale to support the children’s programs at SAMFA that touch over 33,000 children each year.

Mark your calendars for next year’s event: October 18–25, 2020!


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