Winners announced in LPAPA’s 21st annual Best of Plein Air
By MARRIE STONE
On March 6, the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA) announced the winners of their annual Best of Plein Air show. The show attracted 287 entries by 99 artists across the globe. Forty-four finalist pieces currently hang in LPAPA’s Gallery through April 28 (with an additional 38 semi-finalists in the online catalog and auction). Entries arrived from artists throughout California, as well as Colorado, Illinois, New York, Utah, France and Bulgaria. The show features landscapes from all over the world. “It is a lot of fun to go on a global adventure with the pieces in the show,” said LPAPA’s Executive Director Bonnie Langner.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Jeff Rovner
The “Best of Plein Air” show is on display at LPAPA’s North Laguna Gallery through April 28
LPAPA Signature Artist Jason Li took first place. The award capped a long string of recent accolades. Last year, Li was commissioned by UCI to create a 4’ x 12’ watercolor painting for their main reception area. In 2023, Scripps Hospital in San Diego commissioned him to create a 100-foot-long watercolor mural.
“LPAPA was the first art community I joined, and it remains the most significant to this day,” Li said. “It’s played a pivotal role in shaping my career. The resources they provide are invaluable in supporting artists.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Jason Li
Orange County artist Jason Li took home first place in LPAPA’s 21st annual “Best of Plein Air” show
The organization regularly showcases plein air work, hosting receptions that connect artists with each other and with collectors. “The LPAPA Plein Air Invitational, in particular, has been crucial in advancing my career by helping my work gain wider recognition,” Li said. “I’ve personally experienced this growth over the past few years since being invited to participate in this prestigious event.”
In addition to frequently participating in LPAPA exhibitions, Li’s artwork has been displayed in galleries and museums across the United States and China. His pieces have been acquired by art collectors and institutions worldwide. This summer, he will exhibit in Laguna’s Festival of Arts (FOA) for the second time.
“Southern California offers perfect conditions for plein air painting, with its bright sunlight, vivid colors, rich textures and breathtaking scenery,” said Li. “Laguna Beach, in particular, has a long and rich history as a center of artistic culture – it was the epicenter of American Impressionism in the early 20th century, and that artistic tradition continues today.”
Li created his award-winning watercolor piece, Canyon Path, at Chino Hills State Park. “The interplay of light and shadow was truly captivating,” he said. “The sunlight filtering through the trees highlighted the weeds and bushes, casting warm, glowing light that bounced off one another, while cooler shadows stretched across the pathway. The scene had a quiet, peaceful quality, yet it carried a sense of mystery that drew me in. My goal was to transport the viewer to a secluded, unknown place.
Click open story button to continue reading…
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Jason Li
First place winner “Canyon Path” (watercolor) by Jason Li created at Chino Hills State Park
The biggest challenge, as always with plein air, was the rapidly changing light. “Capturing that perfect moment with the right colors was tricky,” Li said. “Additionally, I had to wait for certain areas to dry before painting other layers. That took away more time.”
This year’s jurors included LPAPA Signature Artist Suzie Baker, LPAPA President Toni Kellenberg and LPAPA Board Member Jeff Pierce. The 2025 Awards Judge was LPAPA Founding Member and Signature Artist John Cosby.
“Entering shows is a crucial part of any artist’s progression. It’s like setting hurdles in our own paths to challenge ourselves to complete and showcase our work,” Baker said. “For me, being accepted into shows was euphoric, while rejection motivated me to work even harder. Now, serving as a juror is a way to participate in that process from the inside out. Seeing all the artists’ work and helping select the pieces for the Best in Plein Air show was an honor and a way to assist fellow artists in clearing a few hurdles of their own.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Jeff Rovner
Excerpts from this year’s “Best of Plein Air” now on display at the LPAPA Gallery
Pierce spoke to the “humbling experience” of serving as a juror. “You’re judging the work of an artist who, in some cases, has spent a considerable part of their life developing their craft,” he said. “It’s discomforting when it hits me – I could never do this! As a result, I’m often gobsmacked as I review the work.”
Esteemed judge John Cosby, who seems universally revered in this community, outlined the four criteria of what he looks for when making his selections: Does the painting attract the eye; is there a division of light and form; is there color harmony and is there “success of attempt.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Jeff Rovner
(L-R): Gia Moody’s “Rockpile, Laguna Beach”; Mark Jacobucci’s “Summer Morning at the Beach” and “San Clemente Pier” and David Mayer’s “Coastal Cypress”
“Cosby is a legendary figure in the Plein Air community,” Li said. “He’s one of the founders of LPAPA and an outstanding artist, as well as a true gentleman. To receive this award from him is both an incredible honor and deeply meaningful to me on a personal level.”
Second-place winner Anthony Salvo agreed. “I was thrilled he picked my painting,” he said.
Salvo’s gouache piece, Cliff Drive View, offers an iconic Laguna Beach scene. Perched near Las Brisas, looking out over Main Beach and Hotel Laguna beyond, it’s a vantage point Salva has revisited four or five times, but never in gouache.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Anthony Salvo
Second place winner “Cliff Drive View” (gouache) by Anthony Salvo created in North Laguna
Gouache, Salvo explained, gives paintings a flatter and fresher look. “It’s water-based, so it’s less messy than oil.” Like all plein air paintings, it requires the artist to work fast. “You can only really spend two hours max, because the paint dries very quick and it’s very immediate. You can’t really noodle gouache like you can an oil painting. That gives it a freshness.”
Gouache, Langner said, was the real winner this year. “This year’s show was all about gouache,” she said. “In the past, most of the winners have been either oil or watercolor. This year we had 10 finalist entries in gouache and two of them won awards.”
Other award winners included Danny Folkman’s gouache painting Gold in the Hills (third) and Mark Fehlman’s oil painting Sunset Glow (honorable mention).
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Jeff Rovner
Mark Fehlman’s “Sunset Glow” (bottom center) and Danny Folkman’s “Gold in the Hills” (far right)
Both Li and Salvo will once again exhibit in this year’s FOA show. This summer will be Salvo’s ninth showing and Li’s second. Li also automatically goes on to this year’s LPAPA Invitational held in October. Other participants will be announced later this year.
Courtesy of Anthony Salvo
Second place winner Anthony Salvo will exhibit once again in this summer’s Festival of Arts
“Creating art is a process that comes with both highs and lows,” Li said when asked his advice to artists. “It’s essential to keep doing what you love and to believe in yourself, even during difficult times. The journey can be solitary, but connecting with other artists through groups or organizations can offer support and open up new opportunities.”
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Jeff Rovner
The LPAPA Gallery is located on North Coast Highway and Jasmine Street in North Laguna
Best of Plein Air will be on display through April 28. The LPAPA Gallery is located on Gallery Row in Laguna Beach at 414 North Coast Highway. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday through Monday and by appointment, with hours extended to 9 p.m. the first Thursday of each month for Laguna’s Art Walk.
Learn more about nonprofit Laguna Plein Air Painters Association by clicking here.
