LPAPA Signature Artist Jim McVicker
Loleta, California
JimMcVickerPaints.com

Jim McVicker made his first on location, plein air painting in 1973. His influences then were the French Impressionist, mostly Monet, Pissarro and Sisley. At the time Jim was working full time and attending art classes at Chaffey Community College in Southern California. Jim believes in painting from life, outdoors and in the studio. He paints a lot of still life and figure painting when not working outdoors. McVicker received the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational “Best in Show” award in 2014 and 2016.

Invited LPAPA Gallery Artist – The Invitational Legacy: Then & Now – June 2026
20th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational Invited Artist – October 2018
The Irvine Museum Award – 19th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational – October 2017
Best in Show Award – 18th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational – October 2016
Laguna Canyon Foundation Award – 17th Annual Laguna Invitational – October 2015
Best in Show Award – 16th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational – October 2014
Strada Award – 16th Annual Laguna Invitational – October 2014

LPAPA Signature Artist Clark Mitchell
Cotati, California
CGMitchell.com

Growing up in the shadow of the Rockies, Clark Mitchell very early discovered a love of the natural world. Given a set of fine old German pastels by his father when quite young, he quickly embraced the medium for its ease of handling, brilliance of color and portability. Mitchell has developed the talent to create both tightly rendered scenes as well as looser, more abstract suggestions. Clark received the 2005 “Best in Show” award at the 7th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational.

4th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational Invited Artist – 2002
5th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational Invited Artist – 2003
6th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational Invited Artist – 2004
Best in Show Award – 7th Annual Laguna Plein Air Invitational – 2005
The Argyros Family Foundation Award – Laguna Invitational – October 2013
Featured Signature Artist – October 2016
Featured Signature Artist – August 2023
Invited LPAPA Gallery Artist – The Invitational Legacy: Then & Now – June 2026

LPAPA Signature Artist Lisa Mozzini-McDill
Lake Elsinore, California
LisaMozzini-McDill.com

Lisa Mozzini-McDill graduated from San Diego State University with Honors, Distinction in Art, and a BA in Graphic Communications. She worked as a graphic artist, illustrator, and portrait artist in San Diego for over 10 years. today she works primarily in oil on plein air landscapes, larger studio work, and commissioned portraits, in addition to teaching.

Honorable Mention Award – Art & Nature 2020
Honorable Mention Award – LPAPA’s Urban Landscapes – May 2016

LPAPA Signature Artist Michael Obermeyer
Laguna Beach, California
MichaelObermeyer.com

A native of Southern California, Michael Obermeyer received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at California State University, Long Beach. A 20 year career in illustration included works for Disney Studios, the Anaheim Angels, McDonnell Douglas, Coldwell Banker, and the U.S. Air Force. Because of his illustration background, he is equally comfortable with the landscape and the figure. Michael received the “Best in Show” awards at the 5th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational in 2003, and he was presented with LPAPA’s 2015 “Lifetime Achievement Award” during the 17th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational. Michael is also Vice President and a Signature Member of the California Art Club.

3rd Place Award Winner – LPAPA’s 12th Annual Less is More – March 2018
Collectors’ Choice Award Winner – Laguna Plein Air Invitational – October 2016
Southwest Art Quick Draw Award – 15th Annual Laguna Invitational – October 2013
1st Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 1999
2nd Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2000
3rd Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2001
4th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2002
5th Annual Laguna Invitational Best in Show “Peoples’ Choice” Award – 2003
6th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2004
7th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2005
8th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2006
9th Annual Laguna Invitational Fine Art Connoisseur Award – 2007
10th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2008
11th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2009
12th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2010
13th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2011
14th Annual Laguna Invitational Crystal Cove Founder’s Prize – 2012
15th Annual Laguna Invitational Southwest Art Magazine Quick Draw Award – 2013
16th Annual Invitational Argyros Family Foundation & Fine Art Connoisseur Awards – 2014
17th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2015
18th Annual Laguna Invitational Collectors’ Choice Award – 2016
19th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2017
20th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2018
21st Annual Laguna Invitational Artists’ & Collectors’ Choice Awards – 2019
22nd Annual Laguna Invitational Ovation Award – 2020
23rd Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2021
24th Annual Laguna Invitational Hilbert Museum & Directors’ Awards – 2022
25th Annual Laguna Invitational Best in Show Award – 2023
26th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2024
27th Annual Laguna Invitational Invited Artist – 2025

LPAPA Signature Artist Jesse Powell
Carmel, California
JessePowellFineArt.com

Jesse Powell was born in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in painting and drawing, and went on to study in the Republic of Georgia under the tutelage of Russian and American painters. Jesse has become the first living artist to have a work accepted into the permanent collection of The Irvine Museum.

Southwest Art Magazine Quick Draw Award – Laguna Plein Air Invitational – October 2018