Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO
Through December 31
Jennifer Riefenberg, Forest in Snow, oil, 8 x 10.
One of Plein Air Artists Colorado’s founding principles is to foster camaraderie among outdoor painters through regularly scheduled paint-outs while creating opportunities to share the artists’ work with the public. The organization—one of the oldest plein-air groups in the country—accomplishes just that with its 25th National Juried Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, which returns to Mary Williams Fine Arts in Boulder, CO. The exhibition remains on view through December 31.
Show organizers have opted for a small-works format this year, which allows for more paintings to be featured in the gallery and aligns with the gem-sized art trend focused on the gift-giving season. The oil, watercolor, and acrylic plein-air paintings are selected through a blind-jury process, with approximately 150 works chosen from more than 500 member entries. Skip Whitcomb serves as this year’s Judge of Awards.
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- Mary Pat Ettinger, Neighborhood Morning in May, acrylic, 8 x 10.
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- Orville Giguiento, Rise and Shine, watercolor, 11 x 14.
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- Mike Ray, Winter Light, pastel, 8 x 10.
Because membership is open to artists throughout the country, more than 10 home states are represented among the 90 exhibiting artists in this year’s show, with scenes ranging from Colorado farmland to California coasts to Arizona desert canyons and more. Among the exhibiting artists are Mike Ray, Sheila Marie, Mary Pat Ettinger, Carol Jenkins, Jennifer Riefenberg, Buffalo Kaplinski, Scott Ruthven, Sarah Anderson, and Cliff Austin.
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- Sheila Marie, Such a Perfect Day, oil, 10 x 20.
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- Marianne Billingsley, The Perfect Spot, oil, 8 x 10.
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- Elizabeth Shawaker, Ocean Breaker, oil, 9 x 12.
PAAC counts among its membership some of the most recognized plein-air painters in the country and credits these artists with helping to grow the organization over the years. Members with master signature status include Quang Ho, Albert Handell, Kim English, Jeff Legg, Joe Anna Arnett, Doug Dawson, Don Sahli, Karen Vance, William Scott Jennings, Lorenzo Chavez, and Debra Joy Groesser. “Just to see and experience the quality of art that can be made on location makes this a not-to-be-missed event,” says PAAC board member Riefenberg. —Allison Malafronte
SEE MORE
Several of the artists juried into PAAC’s quarter-century show are spotlighted in this special section.
contact information
303.938.1588
www.pleinairartistscolorado.com
This story appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Southwest Art magazine.