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Jason Sacran, 1980 ~ Plein air painter

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Jason Sacran has a BFA in painting from Tennessee Tech University, and credits towards an MFA from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Jason and his family live in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he was the curator for the Fort Smith Art Center for almost three years. In 2010 Jason became a full-time artist/painter, and part-time instructor for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Jason is also the Arkansas state ambassador for the Portrait Society of America.




Jason Sacran was born and raised in the middle Tennessee area. He began to show interest in creating at a very young age, drawing and making things as early as he can remember. With encouraging support from his mother and others, Jason took this passion into adulthood, graduating with his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Tennessee Technological University. Jason was married with his first child before graduating, and soon had his second child before moving to Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2007. There, Jason became the curator of the Fort Smith Art Center (now Fort Smith Regional Museum), and an instructor at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. 

He entered into a Masters of Fine Arts degree program at the Academy of Arts University in San Francisco, CA, but needing to provide for his young family, Jason put his graduate school endeavors on hold. In 2010 he went fulltime as an artist/painter, and has since been invited to many exhibitions and awarded many times with such organizations as the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionists Society among others. Jason has also had featured articles with publications such as Art of the West, Southwest Art, International Artist, Artist Magazine and PleinAir Magazine. Jason also teaches studio and outdoor workshops all over the country. Although known for his figurative work, Jason is quickly rising as a top outdoor painter. Statement My interest is in painting/documenting things of today, especially the overlooked and familiar aspects of everyday life – scenes we pass by everyday or people we know, but rarely take the time to fully consider. In the chaos of daily life, I believe we all take the simple and familiar for granted. Sometimes they are the vary things we come to remember and even miss.
He has had several exhibitions and been awarded many times for his works and achievements including a first place award in the Portrait Society of Americas 2011 Members Competition, Best of Show in the 2010 Wisconsin Plein Air Painter Association Annual Competition and Best of Show in the 2010 Winthrop Rockefeller Institution Invitational. Although known for his figurative and portrait work, Jason is quickly rising as a top plein air painter, and considers plein air one of, if not his favorite subject.

'In general, my work is about the process of creating by painting subjects that evoke a mood or feeling introspectively. I am interested in documenting things of today, mostly with overlooked or even forgotten aspects of everyday life – scenes we pass by every day, objects we often use, people we know well, but hardly ever think twice about. In the chaos of daily life, I believe we all take the simple and familiar things for granted. Sometimes they are the very things we come to miss'.

“What I admire in an artist is the ability to convey authenticity through the work; i.e., choosing and pursuing a truthfulness in both the vision and the execution.  I think Jason Sacran is one of those rare artists whose work seems thoroughly authentic.  His character portraits are insightful and beautifully rendered, with great feeing and empathy, and his plein-air landscapes are exhilarating examples of spontaneous response to nature.  He is definitely a talent here to stay” - Budd Harris Bishop,  Director Emeritus, Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Gainesville.


Awards
-Best of Show – 2014 Door County Plein Air Invitational, Door County, WI
-Best of Show – 2014 Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, AR (Judge: Manuella Well-Off-Man, curator Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art)
-Judges Choice – En Plein Air Texas Invitational, San Angelo, TX
-Top three award winner (Honorable Mention) – Sonoma Plein Air Invitational, Sonoma, CA
-PleinAir Magazine Award of Excellence – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-2nd Place quick draw – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-Peoples Choice – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-Finalist several times – July Raymar Online Competition
-Best Plein Air Award – Online PleinAir Salon
-Finalist several times – Gateway to Sedona Online Competition
-Artists Choice – 2014 Plein Air Richmond Invitational, Richmond, VA
-Honorable Mention – 2014 Plein Air Richmond Invitational, Richmond, VA
-Artists Choice – 2014 Easels In Frederick Invitational, Frederick, MD
-Peoples Award – 2014 Easels In Frederick Invitational, Frederick, MD
-Best Use of Light – 2014 Easels In Frederick Invitational, Frederick, MD
-Best of Show Winner, Mountain Maryland Plein Air Invitational, Cumberland, MD
-Quick Draw Winner, Mountain Maryland Plein Air Invitational, Cumberland, MD
-Fine Art Connoisseur Award of Excellence – Carmel Plein Air Invitational, Carmel, CA
-Best in Quick Draw Award – Carmel Plein Air Invitational, Carmel, CA
-1st Place  - 6th Annual Plein Air on the White River Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-Peoples Choice – 6th Annual Plein Air on the White River Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-1st place & Purchase Award winner – Nocturne Competition, Augusta Plein Air, Augusta, MO
-3rd Place Award winner – Augusta Plein Air, Augusta, MO
-Best of Show – National Greeley Art Exhibition, Greeley, TX
-Finalist – Raymar Online Competition (April)
-3rd Place – FSAO BoldBrush Online Competition (March)
-Honorable Mention – Plein Air Southwest Salon, Outdoor Painters Society, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
-Honorable Mention – Jerry’s Artarama Annual Online Self-Portrait Competition
-American Salon Award of Merit (2nd Place overall) – American Salon of Fine Art
-Finalist – Raymar Online Competition
2013
-1st Place Award  - Light on the Land Plein Air Invitational, Davis & Blevins Gallery, St. Jo, TX
-Best of Show – 2012 Maple Leaf Plein Air Paint Out , Carthage, MO
-Best use of Light and Color – National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Annual Exhibition, Bolivar, MO
-Best of Show – 16th Annual Exhibit, International Society of Acrylic Painters, Santa Cruz, CA
-Spring Creek Award – Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, AR (Painting hung in Crystal Bridges Museum)
-Cedarburg Art Museum Collection, Cedarburg, WI
-Arkansas History Museum, Little Rock, AR – Purchased piece for permanent collection
-Best of Show – 2013 Center for Art & Education Annual Competition, Van Buren, AR
-Ethel Ashley Founder’s Award – – 2013 Center for Art & Education Annual Competition
-1st Place Award – Quick Draw – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-Gold Award Winner – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-Peoples Choice Winner – Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, CO
-Honorable Mention – OPA (Oil Painters of America) Online competition
-Honorable Mention – 65th Annual River Valley Art Competition, Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, FS, AR
-Third Place Award – Best of Plein Air, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Laguna, CA
-Best In Nocturne – 2013 Online PleinAir Salon
-Third Place Award – 2013 Easels In Frederick Invitational
-Best Use of Light – 2013 Easels In Frederick Invitational
-Finalist – 30th Annual Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition
-1st Place Award – 5th Annual Plein Air on the White River Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-Artists Choice Award – 5th Annual Plein Air on the White River Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-Best of Show – 50th Annual St. Avips Invitational Exhibition, Joplin, MO
-Patrons Choice – 50th Annual St. Avips Invitational Exhibition, Joplin, MO
-The National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic, 59th Annual Competition, Salmagundi Club, NY
-The Katharine Steele Renninger Memorial Award — $300, Juror Burton Silverman
-Best of Show Purchase Award – Chandler Hill Sunrise Paint, Augusta Paint Out, Augusta, MO
-Honorable Mention – 2012 Lukas Paints, Jerry’s Artarama Competition
-Honorable Mention – Quick Draw – First Brush of Spring Plein Air Competition, New Harmony, IN
-Honorable Mention – First Brush of Spring Plein Air Competition, New Harmony, IN
-Judges Honor Award – Richeson 75 Small Works National Exhibition, Kimberly, WI
-Award of Excellence -  Plein Air Southwest Salon, Outdoor Painters Society, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
2012
-Honorable Mention – 29th Annual Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition
-First Place Award – Jerry’s Artarama, 2012 Matisse Competition
-Artists Choice – 2012 Big Cedar Lodge Plein Air Paint Out
-Best of Show – 2012 Maple Leaf Plein Air Paint Out
-Honorable Mention – Small Works, Windsor Whip Works Art Center & Gallery, Windsor, NY
-Purchase Award Winner – 41st Annual Mid-South Watercolor Society, Little Rock, AR
-Honorable Mention – A Singular Creation: People & Portraits
-Best of Show – 2012 Center for Art & Education Annual Competition
-Finalist – FASO Boldbrush September 2012 Online Competition
-2nd Place Award – Miami Watercolor Society Annual Online Exhibition, Miami, FL
-ACO Directors Award – Artists of Northwest Arkansas Annual Competition, Springdale, AR
-Golden Color Award – 15th Annual Exhibit, International Society of Acrylic Painters, Santa Cruz, CA
-Finalist – ARC (Art Renewal Center’s) International Salon, Port Reading, NJ
-Best of Show Award – Cedarburg Plein Air Paint Out, Cedarburg, WI
-Artists Choice Award – Cedarburg Plein Air Paint Out, Cedarburg, WI
-Finalist – FSAO BoldBrush May 2012 Online Competition
-Best of Show – Stems Plein Air Paint Out, Kansas City, MO
-First Place – Stems Plein Air Paint Out, Kansas City, MO
-Sunset Quick Paint Winner, Stems Plein Air Paint Out, Kansas City, MO
-First Place – 49th Annual St. Avips Invitational Exhibition, Joplin, MO
-Artists Choice Award – Augusta Plein Air Paint Out, Augusta, MO
-Best of Show Purchase Award, Klondike Competition – Augusta Plein Air Paint Out, Augusta, MO
-2nd Best in Oil – Augusta Plein Air Paint Out, Augusta, MO
-Honorable Mention – Augusta Plein Air Paint Out, Augusta, MO
-First Place Award, Quick Draw – First Brush of Spring Plein Air Competition, New Harmony, IN
-Honorable Mention  - Soho 2012 Winter Painting Competition, Jerry’s Artarama
-2nd Place Award – Richeson 75 Small Works National Exhibition, Kimberly, WI (Juror, Steve Doherty)
-3rd Place Award – Federation of Canadian Artists Annual Competition, Kelowna, BC
-Jurors Choice Award – 8th Biennial National Exhibition, Punta Gorda, FL (Juror, Dean Mitchell)
-Honorable Mention – Outdoor Painters Society, Southwest Salon Online
-Gallery Award Winner – 6” Squared National Exhibition, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
2011
-Honorable Mention – Oil Painters of America Annual Online Competition
-Outstanding Acrylic Award – FSAO BoldBrush December 2011 Online Competition
-Finalist – FSAO BoldBrush November 2011 Online Competition
-Finalist – ARC (Art Renewal Center’s) International Salon, Port Reading, NJ
-Finalist – The Artists Magazine’s 28th Annual Art Competition
-Winner/Finalist – PleinAir Magazines, 2011 May/June Bi-monthly PleinAir Salon Competition
-Gallery Award Winner – 6” Squared National Exhibition, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
-Best of Show – 2nd Annual Maple Leaf Plein Air Paint Out & Exhibition, Carthage, MO
-Third Overall – 2nd Annual Big Cedar Plein Air Paint Out & Exhibition, Ridgedale, MO
-Artists Choice Award – 2nd Annual Big Cedar Plein Air Paint Out & Exhibition, Ridgedale, MO
-Honorary Presidents Award – 14th Annual Exhibit, International Society of Acrylic Painters, Santa Cruz, CA
-Artist in Residence (Plein Air) – Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, MO, April – May 2011
-Finalist – FSAO BoldBrush August 2011 Online Competition
-Best of Show – 2011 Plein Air on the White River Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-Finalist – 7th Annual Art Kudos International Online Juried Competition/Exhibition
-Honorable Mention – 2011 Hilton Head International Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC
-First Place – 48th Annual St. Avips Invitational Exhibition, Joplin, MO
-Peoples Choice Award – 2011 Central South, Tennessee Art League, Nashville, TN
-George William Gregory Award – 2011 Central South, TAL, Nashville, TN
-Finalist – RayMar January 2011 Online Competition
2010
-First Place – Portrait Society of America’s 11th Annual Members Competition
-1st Place Award, Quick Draw – 2010 Big Cedar Paint Out, Springfield, MO
-3rd Place, Nocturnal Paint Out – 2010 Big Cedar Paint Out, Springfield, MO
-Best of Show – 2010 WIPAPA Annual Plein Air Comp, Griffin Gallery, Oconomowoc, WI
-Best of Show – 2010 Invitational, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
-Award of Merit – 2010 American Impressionist Society, Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN
-Honorable Mention – Center for Art & Education Annual, Van Buren, AR
-Purchase Award – 2010 Big Springs Plein Air Competition, Cotter, AR
-Best of Show – 47th Annual St. Avips Invitational Exhibition, Joplin, MO
-Chesnutt Group Plein Air Painters Award – Tennessee Art League, Nashville, TN
-Honorable Mention – 2010 Rendezvous Plein Air Competition, Bentonville, AR
-Honorable Mention – 2010 Annual Indiana Plein Air Painters Association, New Harmony, IN
2009
-Best of Show – 2009 Center for Art & Education Annual Competition
-Honorable Mention – Art in The Park 2009 Plein Air Competition
-2nd Best n Oil – 2009 Artists of Northwest Arkansas Competition
-Purchase Award – 2009 Fort Smith Art Center 59th Annual Art Comp
-Best of the Best – 2009 Academy of Art University Student Exhibition
-Awarded Top 10 in 2009 Portrait Society of America’s State Ambassadors
-Awarded scholarship to 2009 PSA Annual Conference, Washington DC
-Honorable Mention – 2009 Portrait Society of America’s Members Competition