Judge of Awards

Lorenzo Chavez. 

• Lorenzo Chavez was born and raised in the southern most point of the Rockies in New Mexico. His first inspirations and foundation as a young artist were formed by the local landscape and the art history in New Mexico. Lorenzo now makes his home in Parker, Colorado and uses this location as a base to travel and paint the American West and Southwest. Through the years, while searching for subject matter, he realized there are many similarities throughout the Rockies. The deep blue of the vaulting sky, majestic cloud formations, rabbit brush, chamisa, pinon, pine and juniper, the willows that line the stream banks, the granite in the mountain ranges, aspens and the endless seas of grasses are continuing inspirations.  Notable representation and exhibition locations include:Pastel Society of Spain, Pastel Society of France, Artists of America Show in Denver, Rims to Ruins Exhibition, Plein Air Painters of America, Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Albuquerque Art Museum, Maynard Dixon Country, 100 Gold Medal Exhibition at The Pasadena Art Museum, The Brinton Museum, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Coors Show in Denver, Butler Art Museum, Laguna Art Museum, Gilcrease Museum, Steamboat Art Museum, Legacy Gallery, Cape Cod Art Museum, Blue Rain Gallery Santa Fe, Helena Fox Fine Art, Settlers West Gallery, Howard Manville Gallery, Gallery of the Southwest, Trailside Galleries.
  

Jurors of Selection 

• Lori McNee. Lori is an American artist who specializes in still life, landscape, plein air, and encaustic wax paintings. Inspired by nature, Lori’s paintings reflect her love of the great outdoors and respect for its creatures.  Lori is a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, a Signature Member of the Heartland Art Club, a member of the California Art Club, the American Impressionist Society. Lori’s paintings can be found in prestigious galleries and museums throughout the United States. Her paintings have been featured in numerous publications including Plein Air Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, Southwest Art, Artist’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, American Art Collector, Western Art Collector to name a few.
  
• Paul Murray. Paul has been making art in one form or another since he was 19.  First as a Graphic Designer with his own business and for the last 25 years as a fine artist.  
He is an internationally recognized artist.  He won “Best of Shows” at the International Association of Pastel Societies and the Pastel Journal top 100 exhibition.  To date no other artist has accomplished this. He’s also won 6 other “Best of Show” awards.  He lives with his wife Gail near Santa Fe, New Mexico and has been permanently honored by Plein Aire Painters of New Mexico, The Pastel Society of New Mexico, the International Association of Pastel Societies and is a Master Pastellist with the Pastel Society of America.
  
• Jeff Williams. Jeff Williams is a retired professor of architecture from Oklahoma. In 2017 he retired from teaching to pursue two of his passions, watercolor painting and travel. Inspired and encouraged by workshop leaders Tony Van Hasselt, Thomas Schaller and most notably, Joseph Zbukvic, Williams is currently creating paintings both in studio and “en plein air.”  One of thirty artists to be juried into the 2020 Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition, June 15-20, 2020.  “Rockin’ Bass Rocks” won the “Outstanding Watercolor” award as well as was recognized as part of the “FAV15” in the January 2020 online Boldbrush Painting Contest. One of thirty artists internationally to be juried into the 2020 Paint Annapolis Plein Air Competition by juror Vladislav Yeliseyev, held in Annapolis, Maryland, June 2-9, 202  One of fifty eight artists internationally to be juried into the Easton Plein Air 2020, July 12-19, 2020 (this is the largest and most prestigious plein air event in the USA!). One of twenty eight artists nationally to be juried into the inaugural Plein Air New Bern by juror Nancy Tankersley, held in New Bern, North Carolina, May 11-16, 2020
  
• Rob Nightingale: Rob’s paintings are dark in color and mood with terrific design,evoking nighttime scenes. He has also owned Wilder Nightingale Fine Art for 28 years and represents 35 local and regional artists. He is currently President of the Taos Historic Museums, has been on the boards of the Taos Gallery, and many others. He was the recipient of the Taos Fall Arts 2018 Visionary Artist Award.