https://pleinairsalon.com/

Finalists: June 2025

Congratulations to Peggy Immel and Natasha Isenhour for their paintings that were chosen in the top 100 finalists this month

Awards: May 2025

See all May 2025 awards here.

The judge for the May competition was award-winning artist Dave tulationsSantillanes.

Congratulations to Jane Hunt, PAPNM Master Artist, for awards:  Headed Home (May 2025 Best Nocturne), Ablaze (May 2025 Clouds and Sky Honorable Mention). She also placed two additional top 100 finalist paintings. 

https://www.janehuntart.com

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Awards: April 2025.

Congratulations to John Misner for his Category Award for Best Western and to Jane Hunt for her Honorable Mention in the Landscape Category:

See all April 2025 awards here 

Tobi's work, In Search of Refuge,  will be included in the August issue of Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine in the Look Up Sun and Moon Portfolio!!

Tobi Clement, In Search of Refuge

https://www.tobiclementartist.com/

Awards at the National Show Reception:

AWARDS ANNOUNCED:

BEST IN SHOW: A Perfect Day by Virgina Unseld

BEST OF SIGNATURE MEMBERS: China Cove by Carole Belliveau

BEST OF ARTIST MEMBERS and tied for Artists' Choice Award: The Fence by Ellen Buselli

ARTIST MEMBER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Endurance #4 by Rachel Pearson

ARTIST MEMBER HONORABLE MENTION - Along the Old Ranch Road by Diane Arenberg

FOUNDERS' AWARD: : 3 Gun Springs Arroyo by Roger Gateman

JEFFREY POTTER MEMORIAL AWARD: Cloudscape by Barbara Coleman

JOE ANNA ARNETT MEMORIAL AWARD: Diana by Wendy Ahlm

THE ARTIST STUDIO AWARD: Abiquiu Cliffs Abstraction by Karen Halbert

Legends of the West Gallery Award and tied for Artists' Choice Award: Pedernal in the Afternoon by Donna Barnhill.

Chairman's Award: The Road Home  by Dick Wimberly

To see all the the awards' page: 2025 17th Natl Awards.

You may also see some awards' ceremony photos plus a video here: 2025 17th Natl RECEPTION PHOTOS

Judge's Comments available for printing and viewing here.

Comment by Virginia Unseld, Best in Show:

"Thanks to the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico for a fabulous whirlwind week in Santa Fe with demos and paintalongs and a dinner to meet one another. I was so happy to have 2 paintings accepted into their National Show with nationally known painters galore. So imagine my surprise at the opening when they announced all the awards and at the end Best of Show was awarded to me! Holy cow. This kind of recognition means so much. I loved the judge's comments about the painting."

Third Place

More Info

Also:

Learn More

Congratulations to PAPNM Master Signature Member, Albert Handell!!

https://www.alberthandellstudio.com

https://modernimpressionistmag.com/

From Carole Belliveau, PAPNM Signature Member: "I m beyond thrilled to find out that I have been juried into the Oil Painters of America (OPA ) Western Regional for the third year with December Sky an 18x24 Oil. I thought a lot about how to depict this Western environment illuminated by our magnificent winter skies in Santa Fe. When I moved here I thought that I would not be painting much in winter, but it turns out that it's character resonates with me profoundly. The exhibition will be at Illume Gallery West

130 Broadway St., Philipsburg, MT 59858

413-313-5008

July 11 through August 15, 2025. The Opening Reception will be held on Friday, July 11, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. with the awards presentation at 7:00 p.m."

Congratulations, Carole!!! https://www.carolebelliveau.com/

Ellen Buselli (OPA), Albert Handell (OPAM), Jane Hunt (OPAM), Carolyn Lindsey OPA, Lee McLeod, Jay M. Parks, Richard Prather (OPA) also have work in the show.

More images coming - later

https://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/opa_show/2025-western-regional-exhibition/

As always, let the News' chair know if your name is missing: News (scroll down for link to send the message)

Several PAPNM Members will be showing their studios on these weekends: June 21-22 and June 28-29, including but not limited to:

Albert Handell, Monica ten Bruggentate, Jane Frederick, Stephanie West and Marcia Williams.

(Please notify the News' Chair if you are a PAPNM member and your name is missing: scroll down on the overall News page to send a message.)

Click here for more information (including maps):

https://www.sfestudioart.com/

The Santa Fe Studio Tour is home to a diverse group of talented artists, each with their own unique style and perspective. Our artists specialize in various art forms, including painting, photography, sculpture, and more. Get to know our artists and explore their captivating work during the studio tour.

Now in its 17th year! This free, community-wide event is New Mexico's premier art tour with nearly 100 participating local artists. Plan your visit! Returning to our traditional June Tour dates in 2025 - the last 2 weekends in June. During the week in-between the Tour weekends, artists are also offering workshops, studio talks and demonstrations.

Curated by renowned Denver artist Lorenzo Chavez, this striking 14-piece pastel set is a study in balance, harmony, and essential color theory. Featuring the three primaries, three secondaries, six tertiary hues—alongside black and white for value and contrast.

 From luminous cools to radiant warms, each stick was chosen to represent a full spectrum of the color wheel—making it the perfect foundation for both beginners and experienced artists.

Whether you're working in plein air or in the studio, 14 Color Wheel offers the clarity, temperature range, and boldness needed to bring your compositions to life.

More info here.

Congratulations to Lorenzo, for his very own set!!

 

On sale for $104. Sale not available until June 18th.

https://stepupgallery.org/artists-among-us/

Congratulations to PAPNM member, Kathi Geoffrion Parker.