2023 ARTISTS

Jeff Steiner

Minneapolis, MN

“How long does it take you to do a painting?” said the passerby. “About an hour” I say. If you really want to know, I started in 1966 sculpting with sticks and wire along Lake Zumbra, Victoria, MN. Jump ahead to 1976, University of Minnesota, paired with a semester at Tian Jin University in 1981 ending in a BA in Architecture. Thirty-nine years of designing public buildings, dropped me at an easel with the thrill of water, paint and textured paper. It has taken me 56 years to do one painting at a time.

Jeffrey Michaell Markowsky

Savannah , GA

In 2022 Markowsky, “The Plein Air Nomad” stepped away from full time academia and is currently traveling across North America painting, living a nomadic life. He also Illustrates and serves as an Ambassador for the outdoor recreational clothing company American Backcountry. Markowsky was honored to win the Museum Purchase Award at 2022 Plein Air Texas in San Angelo Texas. In the same year he was awarded Best of Show, 2nd Place and Artist’s Choice at Central City Plein Air in Colorado.

Jill Glassman

Berlin, MD

I’m attracted by color and the contrast of light and shadow, and I love to paint it as simply as I can. Like many artists, I started out with a “xerox” mentality thinking that I must duplicate exactly what I see. In 2017 I began to paint plein air and it dramatically changed the way I see and paint. You must be quick to capture the light effects and it really loosened up my painting style. First Place winner of Plein Air Easton Quick Draw.

JIM LAURINO Litchfield, CT

Oil Painting is something I’ve done since I was in my early teens. I enjoy the impressionists foremost, and over decades of painting, my style and chosen subject matter reflects that. Framing has always been a passion for me as well. Although framing is a more mechanical endeavor, I employ reclaimed material which requires a less precise, more creative approach to construction. My heavy brushwork and thick paint application requires a less delicate frame, and after years of altering building methods and materials, I think the pairing works.

JIM REHAK Seaford, DE

Over time I’ve viewed my plein air painting excursions as an opportunity to work on my self. What better situation to practice moment to moment awareness? We are continually shaped by the experiences that move through us. Painting allows us to share those experiences. An artist’s response to nature, light and everything around us can be expressed in paint...and each artist’s response is unique. Plein air painting in particular allows for an intuitive and personal interpretation and has been a good fit for me.

JJ JIANG Cary, NC

JJ’s childhood was spent in China during the Cultural Revolution. During that era of madness, drawing, writing and poetry kept him sane, shielding him from the chaos outside. Drawing and painting have become inseparable parts of JJ’s life. They came to him naturally, helping shape his view of the world and himself. JJ’s paintings have been juried into four different national and international shows - OPA, NWS, AWS and AIS. He loves teaching at his studio in Cary, NC and throughout the region.