Plein Air Grand Marais

Award Winners

2026 Awards

Juror: Lisa K. Stauffer

Competition Class

Best Body of Work:
Bob Upton

Artists' Choice for Body of Work:
Bob Upton

Paintings of Exceptional Merit - POEM Awards:
David R. Becker, Alley at North House | Watercolor & Gouache
Carl Bretzke, Quiet Harbor | Oil
Nelia Harper French, Cascade Hideaway | Oil
Mark Larson, Quiet Harbor | Oil
Gary Olson, The Headwaters | Gouache
LuAnn Widergren, Sunbathing at the Lake | Oil
Jake Zirbes, [Nocturne] Night at the Harbor | Oil

Best Historic Site - Awarded by Cook County Historical Society:
Erin Renier, Cook County History Museum | Watercolor

Evergreen Award for Best Tree:
Cheryl LeClair-Sommer, Sun Touched Trail | Oil

John Franz Joy of Painting Award:
Stephen Wysocki, Big Blue Boat! The Kiyi | Oil

Birney Quick Paint

First Place:
Jimmy Navarro | Oil

Paintings of Exceptional Merit - POEM Awards:
David R. Becker | Watercolor
Logan Hudson | Oil
David Smith | Watercolor

Open Class

Best in Show:
Joel Pieper, Where Turtles Dream | Oil

Paintings of Exceptional Merit - POEM Awards:
Judith Florell, From Sun to Rain on the Temperance | Water-Miscible Oil
Lisa Kosmo, Tombolo Day | Water-Miscible Oil
Kendall Lotto, Canoes of Menogyn | Pastel

Honorable Mentions:
Stephen Herzog, Sun Fog | Oil
Kurtis Ulrich, Meadow Moment | Oil
Karen Knutson, Rocky Point | Watercolor & Marker