The vibe around Santa Fe — along with the legendary Taos hum — explains some of the appeal of this area of the country for artists of all types. Last week, plein air painters were drawn there for a plein air festival.
Frank LaLumia had the tough job of choosing whom to award with prizes at the Santa Fe Plein Air Festival. He picked Richard Abraham’s oil painting “Approaching Storm” as Best of Show. Carrie Schultz won Second Place with “McKenzie Street,” and Madina Croce took Third with “In Her Heyday.” Clive Tyler and John Meister won Honorable Mention.
“Approaching Storm,” by Richard Abraham, 2016, oil, 11 x 14 in. Best of Show
“McKenzie Street,” by Carrie Schultz, 2016, oil, 11 x 14 in. Second Place
“In Her Heyday,” by Madina Croce, 2016, oil, 14 x 18 in. Third Place
There were several awards focusing on excellence in a particular area or medium. Richard Prather won the award for Excellence in Oil or Acrylic for “Sinuosity.” (Terri Chacon won Honorable Mention.) Margi Lucena won the award for Excellence in Works on Paper for “Nambe Hills.” (Tobi Clement won Honorable Mention.) Outstanding Architectural went to Lisa Flynn, Outstanding Contemporary Impressionism was won by Richard Abraham, and Robert Reynolds won Outstanding Expressionism.
“Sinuosity,” by Richard Prather, 2016, oil, 9 x 12 in. Excellence in Oil or Acrylic
“Truchas Adobe,” by Lisa Flynn, 2016, oil, 9 x 12 in. Outstanding Architectural award
“Glass,” by Robert Reynolds, 2016, oil, 16 x 20 in. Outstanding Expressionism award
To see all the work from the Santa Fe Plein Air Festival, click here.
