Steve Hill
FINE ARTIST
Painting “en plein air” is my passion. I find great joy working on-site in front of live subjects and in natural light, wherever I travel in the world.
I participate in many exhibits and shows worldwide, too lengthy to list. I teach workshops, and give demos/ lectures for organized art groups in the U.S. and Europe. This bio lists only the top awards received in major juried competitions, & honors earned in international art publications, since 2003 as of 7/2022 (70 in total). Click here for Steve's summer 2024 gallery talk. |
Major Awards
• Second Place Nocturne Midway Arts Association “Wasatch Plein Air Competition”, Midway, Utah, July 2022
• Juror’s Award NPS Signature Members Show. Scott milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA March 2022
• BEST PLEIN AIR PAINTING Plein Air Washington Artists’ Annual Winter Show, Dave Santillanes, Juror, 12/2020
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD. Fred Oldfield Annual Invitational Show, Puyallup, WA, 10/2020
• HONORABLE MENTION. Northwest Pastel Society On-Line Juried Small Works show, 11/2020
• ARTISTS CHOICE AWARD. First Light painted en plein air along the Colorado River, Red Rock Art Festival, Moab, Utah, 10/2019
• THIRD PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Little Gems Anacortes, WA, Michelle Usibelli, Juror, 6/2018
• FINALIST Landscape Category The Artists’ Magazine 34th Annual Art Competition (9,000+ entries, 25 countries), Maureen Bloomfield, Editor, 7/2017
• JUROR’S AWARD Northwest Pastel Society Signature Members juried Exhibit, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Craig Lemley, juror, 9/2017
• JUROR’S AWARD 31St Northwest Pastel Society International Competition, American Art Co., Tacoma, WA, Jacob Aguiar, juror, 5/2017
• BEST SKETCHBOOK Plein Air Magazine bi-monthly Salon Competition, Eric Koeppel, juror, 3/2017
• 2ND PLACE Plein Air Moab - Arches National Park, quick draw, 10/2016
• FINALIST Landscape Category The Artists’ Magazine 33th Annual Art Competition (5900+ entries), Maureen Bloomfield, Editor, 7/2016
• BEST OVERALL PASTEL Plein Air Magazine bi-monthly Salon Jim Peterson, owner, Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, Oregon, juror, 12/2015
• JUROR’S AWARD Northwest Pastel Society Juried members exhibit, Vashon Island, WA, Jen Evenhus, juror, 11/2015
• PARK MANAGERS AWARD Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge - Olympic National Park Paint the Peninsula
• 1ST HONORABLE MENTION Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles, WA, Gil Dellinger, juror, 10/2015
• 2ND PLACE Wallowa Valley Arts Festival, Joesph, OR, 6/2015
• SUPERINTENDENT’S PURCHASE AWARD Zion National Park Invitational Plein Air Competition, Painting purchased (with cash award) and placed into the Zion National Park permanent collection, 11/2014
• $1600 TOP PURCHASE AWARD Zion National Park Invitational Plein Air Competition, 11/2013
• FIRST PLACE Paint Annapolis (Hollywood Farm) Annapolis, M. Stephen Doherty, juror, 6/2013
• 2ND PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Shaw Island, WA, 8/2012
• HONORABLE MENTION Plein Air Richmond, Richmond, VA — Everett Raymond Kinstler, juror, 6/2012
• BEST OF SHOW Plein Air Painters of Washington, Orcas Island, WA, 7/2011
• BEST OF SHOW Associated Artists of Ocean Shores 42nd National Competition, Arthur Egeli, juror, 4/2011
• BEST OF SHOW 24th Annual NPS International Juried Competition, American Art Co., Tacoma, WA,. Duane Wakeham, juror, 11, 2010
• RECOGNITION AWARD 41st Annual Ocean Shores National Competition, Ocean Shores, WA, 4/2010
• THIRD PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Lopez Island, WA, 8/2010
• FIRST PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Orcas Island, WA, 8/2009
• FIRST PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, San Juan Island, WA, 7/2008
• AWARD OF MERIT NPS Member’s Juried Exhibit, Mercer Island, WA Susan Ogilvie, Juror, 3/2008
• 2ND PLACE Art Spectrum Plein Air Painting Contest, NPS paint-out, Lopez Island, WA, 8/2007
• AWARD OF MERIT NPS International Juried Exhibit, Gig Harbor, WA. Deborah Paris, Juror, 9/2006
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Juried Exhibit, Clymer Museum, Ellensburg, WA, 5/2006
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Juried Members Exhibit, Firdale Gallery, Edmonds, WA, Diane Ainsworth, juror, 8/2004,
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Annual Juried Members Exhibit, Walla Walla, WA, Richard McKinley, juror, 3/2004
• BEST OF SHOW 2nd Annual Juried Arts Competition, San Juan Gallery, Friday Harbor, WA, 3/2003
Recent Honors
• American Impressionists Society (AIS) 2nd Annual On Line Juried Competition chosen to participate with 150 artists out of 1750) entrants October 2021
• International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), chosen to participate in 37th Annual Juried Exhibit, with 150 artists out of 2,000 entrants June 2021
• The Salmagundi Club, New York City Sponsored and voted in, January 31, 2018
• Strokes of genius 10: Inspiring Subjects, September 2017, North Light Books
• Strokes of genius 9: Creative Discoveries, September 2016, North Light Books, 3 pieces in winners circle
• Paint Cuba, February 2016, Plein Air Magazine publisher’s Invitational, B. Eric Rhoads with 79 artists from the U.S. for an historical one-week plein air painting trip to Cuba
• Strokes of genius 8: Exploring Texture, August 2015, North Light Books
• Zion National Park, November 2014, Permanent Collection
• Associated Arts of Ocean Shores, 43rd Annual National Juried Fine Art Show, April, 2012 Invited to be Juror associatedarts.org
• Coos Art Museum, March 2012, Permanent Collection
• Florence Biennale, Dec. 2011, Chosen to participate by the internal selection committee. Florence, Italy
• Lambiel Museum Permanent Collection, 2nd acquisition, Washington en Plein Air 2009 & 2010 Vol. 1, by PAWA 2010. Orcas Island, WA
• 24th Annual Chelsea International Juried Fine Arts Competition, August 2009. One of 30 artists selected from thousands of worldwide entries, by Mr. Ira Goldberg, Executive Director, Art Students League of New York
• Northwest Pastel Society President and Signature Member Status, 2006 & 2007 to present
• Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters Signature Member, Nominated and accepted, September 6, 2005
• Annual 2004 The Book of the San Juan Islands Cover Artist, Sound Publishing, Bainbridge Island, WA
Major Invitational Exhibits
• 2017 Pacific NW Plein Air Event Invitational Maryhill Museum, Goldendale, WA
• 2015 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 2-10. Zion National Park, Utah
• 2015 Paint the Peninsula National Juried Plein Air Competition Sept. 2015. Port Angeles, WA (2 Awards)
• 2015 Wallowa Valley Art Festival National Juried Event June 4-7, 2015. Joseph, Oregon (Award)
• 2014 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 2-10. Zion National Park, Utah (Award)
• 2013 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 4-11. Zion National Park Utah (Award)
• 2011 Florence Biennale International Invitational Juried Exhibit Dec.2011. One of 11 artists selected to represent the U.S., Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy
• 2010-2016 Annual Carmel Arts Festival juried event, invited 6 times since 2010.
Books, Newspaper & Art Publications
• Strokes of Genius 10 by North Light Books, Published January, 2018
• Strokes of Genius 9 2 pastels accepted by North Light Books, Published November, 2017
• Plein Air Magazine Annual Juried Salon Competition April/May 2017, Best Sketchbook
• Lopez Island Artist Paints Cuba, Skagit Valley Herald newspaper, full front/back page Sunday edition March 2016
• Plein Air Magazine Annual Juried Salon Competition Oct./Nov. 2015. Best Overall Pastel
• Strokes of Genius 8 by North Light Books, Published October 2016
• Plein Air Painting, a Passion for the Practice by Steven R Hill ARTisSpectrum Magazine Vol. 27, May 2012. Agora Gallery, Chelsea, NYC
• ARTisSpectrum Vol.26, Nov. 2011, Profiles of Contemporary Art & Artists - half page review, Chelsea NYC
• ARTisSpectrum Vol.23, May 2010, Profiles of Contemporary Art & Artists - Full page review. ARTisSpectrum.com, Chelsea, NYC
Professional Affiliations & Formal Education
• The Salmagundi Club, NYC
• Northwest Pastel Society, past president and signature member
• Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists, signature member
• Plein Air Painters of Washington
• Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
• American Impressionists’ Society
• The Lopez Artists’ Guild
• Washington State University, MFA Painting, 1974 • Boise State University, B.A. Fine Arts 1970
• Illustrator, U.S. Army 1970-72, Ft Hood, Texas
• Second Place Nocturne Midway Arts Association “Wasatch Plein Air Competition”, Midway, Utah, July 2022
• Juror’s Award NPS Signature Members Show. Scott milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA March 2022
• BEST PLEIN AIR PAINTING Plein Air Washington Artists’ Annual Winter Show, Dave Santillanes, Juror, 12/2020
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD. Fred Oldfield Annual Invitational Show, Puyallup, WA, 10/2020
• HONORABLE MENTION. Northwest Pastel Society On-Line Juried Small Works show, 11/2020
• ARTISTS CHOICE AWARD. First Light painted en plein air along the Colorado River, Red Rock Art Festival, Moab, Utah, 10/2019
• THIRD PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Little Gems Anacortes, WA, Michelle Usibelli, Juror, 6/2018
• FINALIST Landscape Category The Artists’ Magazine 34th Annual Art Competition (9,000+ entries, 25 countries), Maureen Bloomfield, Editor, 7/2017
• JUROR’S AWARD Northwest Pastel Society Signature Members juried Exhibit, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Craig Lemley, juror, 9/2017
• JUROR’S AWARD 31St Northwest Pastel Society International Competition, American Art Co., Tacoma, WA, Jacob Aguiar, juror, 5/2017
• BEST SKETCHBOOK Plein Air Magazine bi-monthly Salon Competition, Eric Koeppel, juror, 3/2017
• 2ND PLACE Plein Air Moab - Arches National Park, quick draw, 10/2016
• FINALIST Landscape Category The Artists’ Magazine 33th Annual Art Competition (5900+ entries), Maureen Bloomfield, Editor, 7/2016
• BEST OVERALL PASTEL Plein Air Magazine bi-monthly Salon Jim Peterson, owner, Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, Oregon, juror, 12/2015
• JUROR’S AWARD Northwest Pastel Society Juried members exhibit, Vashon Island, WA, Jen Evenhus, juror, 11/2015
• PARK MANAGERS AWARD Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge - Olympic National Park Paint the Peninsula
• 1ST HONORABLE MENTION Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles, WA, Gil Dellinger, juror, 10/2015
• 2ND PLACE Wallowa Valley Arts Festival, Joesph, OR, 6/2015
• SUPERINTENDENT’S PURCHASE AWARD Zion National Park Invitational Plein Air Competition, Painting purchased (with cash award) and placed into the Zion National Park permanent collection, 11/2014
• $1600 TOP PURCHASE AWARD Zion National Park Invitational Plein Air Competition, 11/2013
• FIRST PLACE Paint Annapolis (Hollywood Farm) Annapolis, M. Stephen Doherty, juror, 6/2013
• 2ND PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Shaw Island, WA, 8/2012
• HONORABLE MENTION Plein Air Richmond, Richmond, VA — Everett Raymond Kinstler, juror, 6/2012
• BEST OF SHOW Plein Air Painters of Washington, Orcas Island, WA, 7/2011
• BEST OF SHOW Associated Artists of Ocean Shores 42nd National Competition, Arthur Egeli, juror, 4/2011
• BEST OF SHOW 24th Annual NPS International Juried Competition, American Art Co., Tacoma, WA,. Duane Wakeham, juror, 11, 2010
• RECOGNITION AWARD 41st Annual Ocean Shores National Competition, Ocean Shores, WA, 4/2010
• THIRD PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Lopez Island, WA, 8/2010
• FIRST PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, Orcas Island, WA, 8/2009
• FIRST PLACE Plein Air Painters of Washington, San Juan Island, WA, 7/2008
• AWARD OF MERIT NPS Member’s Juried Exhibit, Mercer Island, WA Susan Ogilvie, Juror, 3/2008
• 2ND PLACE Art Spectrum Plein Air Painting Contest, NPS paint-out, Lopez Island, WA, 8/2007
• AWARD OF MERIT NPS International Juried Exhibit, Gig Harbor, WA. Deborah Paris, Juror, 9/2006
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Juried Exhibit, Clymer Museum, Ellensburg, WA, 5/2006
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Juried Members Exhibit, Firdale Gallery, Edmonds, WA, Diane Ainsworth, juror, 8/2004,
• HONORABLE MENTION NPS Annual Juried Members Exhibit, Walla Walla, WA, Richard McKinley, juror, 3/2004
• BEST OF SHOW 2nd Annual Juried Arts Competition, San Juan Gallery, Friday Harbor, WA, 3/2003
Recent Honors
• American Impressionists Society (AIS) 2nd Annual On Line Juried Competition chosen to participate with 150 artists out of 1750) entrants October 2021
• International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), chosen to participate in 37th Annual Juried Exhibit, with 150 artists out of 2,000 entrants June 2021
• The Salmagundi Club, New York City Sponsored and voted in, January 31, 2018
• Strokes of genius 10: Inspiring Subjects, September 2017, North Light Books
• Strokes of genius 9: Creative Discoveries, September 2016, North Light Books, 3 pieces in winners circle
• Paint Cuba, February 2016, Plein Air Magazine publisher’s Invitational, B. Eric Rhoads with 79 artists from the U.S. for an historical one-week plein air painting trip to Cuba
• Strokes of genius 8: Exploring Texture, August 2015, North Light Books
• Zion National Park, November 2014, Permanent Collection
• Associated Arts of Ocean Shores, 43rd Annual National Juried Fine Art Show, April, 2012 Invited to be Juror associatedarts.org
• Coos Art Museum, March 2012, Permanent Collection
• Florence Biennale, Dec. 2011, Chosen to participate by the internal selection committee. Florence, Italy
• Lambiel Museum Permanent Collection, 2nd acquisition, Washington en Plein Air 2009 & 2010 Vol. 1, by PAWA 2010. Orcas Island, WA
• 24th Annual Chelsea International Juried Fine Arts Competition, August 2009. One of 30 artists selected from thousands of worldwide entries, by Mr. Ira Goldberg, Executive Director, Art Students League of New York
• Northwest Pastel Society President and Signature Member Status, 2006 & 2007 to present
• Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters Signature Member, Nominated and accepted, September 6, 2005
• Annual 2004 The Book of the San Juan Islands Cover Artist, Sound Publishing, Bainbridge Island, WA
Major Invitational Exhibits
• 2017 Pacific NW Plein Air Event Invitational Maryhill Museum, Goldendale, WA
• 2015 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 2-10. Zion National Park, Utah
• 2015 Paint the Peninsula National Juried Plein Air Competition Sept. 2015. Port Angeles, WA (2 Awards)
• 2015 Wallowa Valley Art Festival National Juried Event June 4-7, 2015. Joseph, Oregon (Award)
• 2014 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 2-10. Zion National Park, Utah (Award)
• 2013 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, National Juried, November 4-11. Zion National Park Utah (Award)
• 2011 Florence Biennale International Invitational Juried Exhibit Dec.2011. One of 11 artists selected to represent the U.S., Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy
• 2010-2016 Annual Carmel Arts Festival juried event, invited 6 times since 2010.
Books, Newspaper & Art Publications
• Strokes of Genius 10 by North Light Books, Published January, 2018
• Strokes of Genius 9 2 pastels accepted by North Light Books, Published November, 2017
• Plein Air Magazine Annual Juried Salon Competition April/May 2017, Best Sketchbook
• Lopez Island Artist Paints Cuba, Skagit Valley Herald newspaper, full front/back page Sunday edition March 2016
• Plein Air Magazine Annual Juried Salon Competition Oct./Nov. 2015. Best Overall Pastel
• Strokes of Genius 8 by North Light Books, Published October 2016
• Plein Air Painting, a Passion for the Practice by Steven R Hill ARTisSpectrum Magazine Vol. 27, May 2012. Agora Gallery, Chelsea, NYC
• ARTisSpectrum Vol.26, Nov. 2011, Profiles of Contemporary Art & Artists - half page review, Chelsea NYC
• ARTisSpectrum Vol.23, May 2010, Profiles of Contemporary Art & Artists - Full page review. ARTisSpectrum.com, Chelsea, NYC
Professional Affiliations & Formal Education
• The Salmagundi Club, NYC
• Northwest Pastel Society, past president and signature member
• Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists, signature member
• Plein Air Painters of Washington
• Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
• American Impressionists’ Society
• The Lopez Artists’ Guild
• Washington State University, MFA Painting, 1974 • Boise State University, B.A. Fine Arts 1970
• Illustrator, U.S. Army 1970-72, Ft Hood, Texas