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Backyard and Beyond Plein Air Challenge
"It's not the subject you paint, but the way you paint the subject that matters."
Kathleen Lawrence-Davis. President of the Arizona Plein Air Painters, challenged us to select
an ordinary object or scene for this plein air challenge. The setting can be in your
backyard or beyond. It is your choice.
Two categories - you can enter both - the emphasis is on shadows
An ordinary object painted outdoors
A scene painted outdoors
80% of the painting should be completed on site, outdoors.
Deadline is October 20, 2025
1. Send your image to Nori Thorne at norithorne@gmail.com
2. In the email - subject line Plein Air Challenge Shadows
3. Identify which category your painting is.
4. You MUST properly name your file as
LastnameFirstname_Title
The Challenge award winners will be announced at our in-person awards reception on November 2, 2025.
Arizona Artists Guild Building, 18411 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85023
Nancie King Mertz Challenge - Paint What Scares You
We challenged ourselves to get out of our comfort zone and push to paint what’s hardest for us. Award winners are Jeanne Wellins, Suzette Young and Nori Thorne. Click here to see all the works: Paint What Scares You Challenge Notes.docx
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Turtle Emerging from the Water by Suzette Young |
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Jim 
The Accordionist by Nori ThorneGrow and Glow Experimental Art Challenge Fall 2024
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Inspired by Laura Pollak’s presentation on "Glow and Grow” now on our website, challenge yourself to create a piece of art that is experimental for you. Winners: Hidden by Joanne Agostinelli Palms by Leila Langston And a Lemon by BF Reed Please e-mail your art to norithorne@gmail.com by November 14. Laura will select three pieces that she thinks best satisfy the criteria and will offer her comments at our December 8th reception at the AAG Building. To further incentivize you, generous Dakota Pastel gift cards will be given to the three award winners |
Leila's Plein Air Challenge 2024 Our Plein Air Chair, Leila Langston, challenged members to submit one of their recent plein air paintings. |
Award Winners
Patricia Duncan
Sutherland Wash
Peggy Orbon
Spring in Boyce Thompson
Nori Thorne
Montezuma Castle
HONORABLE MENTION
Gary Binder, Spring Surround
Debborah Charbonneau, Pink and Gold
Christine Debrosky, Spring Sparkles
Jeanne Wellins, Goose Creek
ALL ENTRIES
Nancie King Mertz' September 2023
Member Art Challenge: City Challenge
Distinguished Signature Member Nancie King Mertz, one of the country's premiere urban landscape painters, challenged APAA members to paint an urban scene from your travel photos or en plein air, with a focus on the study of one or two-point perspective. Three winners were awarded by Nancie from the participants. |
| Winners of the Nancie King Mertz City Challenge
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Below see all entries. Click on the image to expand the view or see slide show. |