Big Bear En Plein Air
Artists have painted, judges have decided - now it's time to admire the work of art that is 2025's Big Bear Plein Air Art Competition! We hope to see you next year!
Big Bear’s Plein Air Art Competition 2025, Tara Antongiorgi
As I pause to look back on Plein Air 2025, I’m amazed at how much this event has grown. What began as a spark of inspiration by Big Bear arts advocate Beth Wheat, has become a celebration that brings together creativity, friendship, and the breathtaking beauty of Big Bear.
This year’s festival unfolded in beautiful new directions. Artists captured sweeping views from the top of Summit Mountain, shared laughter and conversation over dinner at Stella Luna, while building friendships that will sustain our growing community. Our Pop-Up Gallery at Destination Big Bear was all we imagined and more; a stunning showcase where artists from Laguna to Redlands, and right here at home, brought their creativity to our Big Bear community. And, our joint Paint Out at Boulder Bay with the Palm Desert Chapter of the California Art club was nothing short of magical; a glassy lake, mirrored reflections, topped off by enchanting music from Big Bear’s own Mountain Top Strings; Director Sharon Rizzo.
Plein air painting has deep roots in California. Our state’s earliest painters were plein air artists, drawn to capture America’s last natural frontier. I like to think we are now writing our own chapter in that story; one that celebrates Big Bear’s beauty, our creative spirit, and reintroduces this once remote corner of California’s landscape to the artist’s canvas.
This is our moment to nurture that tradition, to invite others, and to let it evolve. Celebrating the art of the past while allowing it to grow and change is what keeps it alive. Through this festival, and through the shared vision of all creatives, we honor the legacy of plein air and in so doing, we enrich not only our community but ourselves; art always has a way of teaching us the things we didn’t know we needed to learn.
Everyone at Visit Big Bear and all you have worked to see this Festival come to fruition are excited to see how artists and our Big Bear community continue to inspire each other.
The Big Bear Visitor Center is excited to welcome artists back in 2026, Registration To Be Announced this spring. . .
2025 Plein Air Art Competition Winners
Honorable Mention & People's Choice
Renowned & Distinguished Judges
John Budicin
Born in Rovigno, Italy (now Croatia) and raised in Rome before immigrating to California, John Budicin is a distinguished plein air artist known for his exceptional command of light and atmosphere. His oil paintings reflect a timeless dedication to the landscapes he loves - from California's rugged coast to the tranquil countryside of Tuscany.
A Signature Member and past President of the Plein-Air Painters of America, Budicin also holds Signature status with the California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. His paintings have been exhibited at premier institutions including the Autry Museum of the American West, the Frederick R. Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University, the Irvine Museum, and the Haggin Museum, among many others.
John's group exhibitions across the United States, and his work is represented in esteemed private and public collections such as Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Joan Irvine smith Collection. His artistry has been recognized with top honors from leading national exhibitions - including First Place awards from the California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.
John is known for his devotion to painting outdoors nearly everyday, he continues to inspire fellow artists with his commitment to truth, beauty, and the ever-changing dance of light in the landscape. We are honored to welcome the distinguished John Budicin as a judge for this year's Plein Air Big Bear Competition. A passionate educator, Budicin has shared his plein air expertise through workshops through the U.S. and internationally, leading artists to paint on location in Italy, China, and beyond. His Insights and techniques have been featured in leading art publications such as PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art, American Artist, and Art of the West.
Diane Moore
A passionate and accomplished watercolor and acrylic artist whose work celebrates the natural world in all its variety. Since taking up painting in 2003, Diane has dedicated herself to exploring landscapes, seascapes, florals, western scenes, and figurative subjects, often painting en plein air to capture the essence and vitality of her surroundings.
After a 30-year career in commercial real estate, Diane embraced her creative calling, studying with both local and nationally recognized instructors. She has since become leader in the Coachella Valley art community, serving as Past President of the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society and Past President of the Desert Art Center. Her commitment to fostering artistic grwoth also led her to co-found the Desert Plein Air Association, a nonprofit organization promoting plein air painting and hosting an annual festival that draws artists from across the nation.
Diane has traveled extensively to paint on location, including in Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and Italy, bringing each landscape to life with her distinctive blend of watercolor, acrylic, and ink techniques. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, is included in private collections, and is proudly displayed in the Coachella Valley History Museum.
For Diane Painting is more than a practice - it is a connection to nature, creativity, and the human experiences. Through her work and advocacy, she inspires both artists and audiences to engage deeply with the world around therm. We are honored to welcome the dedicated and imaginative Diane Moore as a judge for this year's Plein Air Big Bear Competition.
Lisa Mozzini-McDill
An award-winning Southern California artist whose plein air landscapes and expressive oils capture both the beauty of the natural world and the emotion it inspires. Her Paintings reflect a harmonious blend of realism and painterly freedom - compositions alive with light, movement, and meaning.
Lisa, a graduate of San Diego State University with Honors and Distinction in Art, Lisa began her career as a graphic artist, illustrator, and portrait painter before dedicating herself fully to fine art. Today she works primarily in oil, creating evocative plein air studies, larger studio works, and commissioned portraits. She has continued her artistic development through mentor-ships and workshops with renowned artists including John Budicin, Ken Auster, Michael Obermeyer, and Joseph Todorovitch.
Her artwork has earned recognition from many of the region's most prestigious art organizations. Recent honors include First Place in LPAPA's Paint Hotel Laguna, the Fine Art Connoisseur Award at the 25th LPAPA Invitational, and multiple awards from the California Art Club and Oil Painters of America. Her Paintings have been featured in Southwest Art, PleinAir Magazine, Bold Journey, and Orange County's Best.
A dedicated teacher and mentor, shares her knowledge through workshops, public demonstrations, and private instruction at her studio and The Artistry. She is a Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and an Artist Member of the California Art Club. Guided by a love of light and instinct for emotion storytelling, Lisa Seeks to create paintings that not only depict a scene but invite the viewer to feel it. We are delighted to welcome the talented Lisa Mozzini-McDill as a judge for this year's Plein Air Big Bear Competition.
Plein Air Registration
2026 Registration To Be Announced. . .
Thank you for your interest the Plein Air Competition in Big Bear Lake! Please read the following information carefully to ensure a successful registration. For additional information please contact pleinairbigbear@gmail.com or call 909-375-1805.
Final Registration Details
- Make your payment of the $50 Registration Fee
- Have your blank substrates (canvas/panel/board/paper) stamped, PRIOR to painting. No unstamped art will be accepted.
- You may have ten (10) blank substrates stamped but no more than one (1) can be submitted for the competition.
- Once your final registration is complete you will receive an email confirming your place in the competition.