From the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (California):
The Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) is proud to present its 21st Annual “Best of Plein Air” Juried Art Show that opened at the LPAPA Gallery with a well attended First Thursdays Art Walk Reception, regardless of the rainy weather… after all, we are plein air painters ready for the challenges that Mother Nature will throw at us!
We are pleased to share the Award Winners:
1st Place: Jason Li for “Canyon Path” (14 x 18 in., Watercolor, shown at top)
2nd Place: Anthony Salvo for “Cliff Drive View” (11 x 14 in., Gouache)
3rd Place: Danny Folkman for “Gold in the Hills” (16 x 12 in., Gouache)
Honorable Mention: Mark Fehlman for “Sunset Glow” (16 x 20 in., Oil)
This annual show attracts the top plein air painters from near and far to enter their best plein air work to compete for cash awards with the added bonus of the top award winning artist receiving a coveted invitation to participate in the 2025 Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational (October 4-12, 2025).
This year there were 287 paintings submitted by 99 artists. The 2025 Jurors were LPAPA Signature Artist Suzie Baker, LPAPA President Toni Kellenberg, and LPAPA Board Member Jeff Pierce. This year’s Awards Judge was LPAPA Founding Member and Signature Artist John Cosby.
There were 44 paintings that achieved a score between 11 and 15 (with 15 being the highest possible score) that we accepted as Award Finalists exhibited at the LPAPA Gallery through April 28th. An additional 35 paintings were accepted into the online show as Semi-Finalists with a score of 10 of 15 available points. This year’s show includes artists based throughout California as well as Colorado, Illinois, New York, Utah, France, and Bulgaria.
Proceeds generated through art sales benefit the artists and help sustain the year-round art and education programs presented by nonprofit Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art organization.
Learn more about nonprofit Laguna Plein Air Painters Association by visiting LPAPA.org.
