Member Spotlight

PPPAP is proud to announce that two members participated in the Westcliff Alla Prima Event in September. Julie Cutting and Brigit O'Hara participated in the 15th Annual paint out. The Plein Air competition stands over nine days, in the beautiful setting of the Sangre de Christo Mountains in Westcliffe, CO.

The Best Sunrise/Sunset Award went to Julie Cutting for her "Wet Mountain Sunrise" oil painting

The 24th Annual Victor Celebrates the Arts Paint Out was held through Labor Day with 51 artists participating in the event. There were 154 paintings entered into the event with 44% of the art sold during the event.

PPPAP members  Kent Kerns, Brigit O'Hara, Julie Cutting and Michael Gault proudly represented the organization. All four members sold work at the exhibition. The  Laura Gilpin award was presented to PPPAP member Julie Cutting. The Best Miniature award went to Michael Gault, and Michael also received received the 3rd Place Award for the Professional Division. 

Member participation was high for the Peak Art Adventure All About Pikes Peak Show  hosted by Reserve Our Gallery. Members winning awards from the PleinAir portion of the event were:

Scott Yeager                                 Best of Show

Julie Cutting          First Place Advanced Artist Division

Michelle Melville-Speck        Patron's Award

Michael Gault             People's Choice Award

Tim Deibler, PPPAP member was selected  by Reserve Our Gallery to judge the PleinAir portion of the Peak Art Adventure. 

Tim is a well respected regional artist with a career as a professional artist that has grown over the past 30 years. Tim is a mentor and teacher with vast plein air experience in the Pikes Peak region, as well as throughout Colorado. 

Tim was unable to participate in the plein air event this year but was proud to support the effort by lending his experience in plein air to  judge the event.

'Lloyd Maynard Larsen" is an oil portrait  commission by Michelle Melville-Speck, of a real-life cowboy that was born in Cripple Creek, CO in 1938. Lloyd raised longhorn cattle and did cattle drives to get them to market. He lraised horses and was highly-regarded for raising cattle dogs. The portrait was commissioned by a long-time friend that worked with Lloyd on his ranch in Divide Colorado. Lloyd passed away in March of 2024 and his saddle, hat, ropes and western gear were all on display in his honor at his funeral. He was well known & respected throughout the area as a knowledgeable, original Old West Cowboy; tough, yet lovable. 

PPPAP is happy to announce that member, Julie Cutting has been awarded The Silver Award for Best of Teller 2024 ( artist category). 

Julie is a Teller County resident and an active member of Destination Art Pikes Peak and a resident artist of Woodland Park's, Reserve Our Gallery. She has also received three separate  People’s Choice awards at Reserve Our Gallery monthly exhibitions this year and aPatron Award at the Florence Paints the Town event. 

PPPAP co-founder, Michael Gault's landscape, Late in the Day Near Salida is featured in the Oil Painters of America ad in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine's August publication. The layout is announcing the 2024 National Salon show in Indianapolis, IN. Gault is one of the 100 artists juried into the exhibition that begins on July 25th at James R. Ross Fine Art Gallery.

Michael's work is frequently featured in exhibitions at Woodland Park's Reserve Our Gallery & he teaches classes & workshops through Westside Gallery & the Destination Art School .