Sonoran Plein Air Painters
Exhibition artwork

Sonoran Plein Air Painters

From Plein Air to Studio

St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, Murphey Gallery

December 2, 2026 – January 7, 2027

Deadline is November 5th.
Find Open Calls

Opens for entry Oct 15th.

About the Show

The Sonoran Plein Air Painters invites all eligible Artist and Signature level members to apply to the show From Plein Air to Studio at St. Philip's in the Hills' Murphey Gallery in Tucson running from December 2, 2026 – January 7, 2027.

A Show of Studio Works

This show provides an exciting opportunity to exhibit studio works! Artwork that depicts our surrounding landscape ranging from representational to abstract styles is welcome. Artwork size is limited to a maximum of 36 inches in width including the frame. Each artist is limited to submitting two (2) pieces for consideration.

Special Paintout for Accepted Artists

A paint-out on the church campus is planned for the day of the Opening Reception on Friday, December 4, 2026 for accepted artists. Artwork created at this paint-out will be exhibited at the reception. More details about this paint-out will follow.

Artists notified of acceptance may participate in a paint-out on the St. Philip's campus on the day of opening reception. Works created during this event will be displayed outside on the easel during reception and may be sold at that time. Any unsold works created during this event may be hung for the duration of the show, provided they are framed on the day of opening.

Receptions

Accepted artists will be expected to attend at least one reception at the gallery. The receptions will be on Friday, December 4, 2026 from 4–7pm and Sunday, December 6, 2026 from 11am–1pm. There may also be a reception on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Venue

St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, Murphey Gallery
4440 N Campbell Avenue
Tucson, AZ

Founded in 1936, St. Philip's was built in the style of Spanish Colonial architecture, also called Neo-Mission. St. Philip's is similar to the Franciscan mission churches built in California over 400 years ago and is on the National Register of Historic Places and is located at the corner of River and Campbell, 4440 N Campbell Avenue.

Juror of Selection

Anton Nowels
Anton Nowels is a contemporary landscape painter whose work bridges plein air observation with expressive abstraction. Drawing inspiration from the light, atmosphere, and vast landscapes of the American West, he creates paintings that emphasize memory, emotion, and place over literal representation.

His work has been recognized nationally, including Best in Show at the Sedona Plein Air Festival, First Place in the American Impressionist Society Signature Online Showcase, and the Landscape Award at the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition. His paintings have been featured on the cover of PleinAir Magazine, and he is a faculty member for the Plein Air Convention & Expo and Scottsdale Artists’ School.

Nowels is currently represented by Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona, Arizona; Peterson Contemporary Art in Bend, Oregon; and the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts / Maynard Dixon Legacy Museum in Mount Carmel, Utah.

Artist Eligibility

  • Art submitted with an application must be from current Artist and Signature level SPAP members. If you're not sure of your current membership status, confirm on the SPAP web page under Members.

Artwork Requirements

  • This is your opportunity to show your studio work. Work must have been completed in the studio during the last two years and not created during a workshop.
  • Artwork size is limited to a maximum of 36 inches in width including the frame.
  • Art must be ready to hang, framed with wire on back, no sawtooth hardware.
  • No wet works.
  • Label back of art with Artist Name, Title and Price.

Entry Fee

  • $40 for up to 2 works.
  • Up to 2 works.

Delivery

Artists drop off their work at the Murphey Gallery on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 9–10am. Drop off art during designated window of time, or you must have someone bring it for you.

Artwork Pickup

Artists retrieve art at Murphey Gallery on Tuesday, January 8, 2027, 9–10am. Pick up your art during the designated window of time or you must have someone pick it up for you. Art that is not picked up will be donated to charity.

Image and Filename Specifications

  • File Format: Submit original, high-quality JPEG image files. Other formats (e.g., PNG, TIFF) are not accepted.
  • Crop Your Image: Ensure only the artwork itself is visible in the image. Do not show any visible matting, frames, or background distractions.
  • Orientation: Make sure your image is oriented correctly (right side up) so that the artwork appears in its intended viewing direction.
  • Image Size: You do not need to resize your image files before uploading. The system will automatically resize them. Smaller images cannot be enlarged to meet the requirements, so ensure your images are high resolution before uploading.
  • File Names: You do not need to rename your files before uploading them. The system will handle any file naming requirements.
  • File Size: There is a 30MB maximum file size limit. Larger image files will take longer to upload and process.

Additional Entry Information

  • You will pay for your entry by credit or debit card using our secure checkout system.
  • After your entry is submitted and paid for, you may log back in to review your entry, edit artist and image information, and add or substitute images up until the entry deadline (November 5, 2026.)
  • Entry fees are not refundable and must be submitted and paid by the entry deadline.
  • Entries cannot be accepted or changed after the deadline. Incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Notifications Are Posted in Your Account

Results will be posted in your ShowSubmit account by the end of the day on November 12, 2026. You will also receive an email.

Log in and check your account. We are unable to answer individual inquiries about results.

Support

Questions about this exhibition?
Contact Nora Chorover ([email protected]) for questions about the prospectus, SPAP, eligibility, artwork requirements, drop-off, pick-up, sales, etc.

Need help with ShowSubmit?
Visit our Help Center or Entry Guide for guidance on image uploads, payments, and managing your entry. If you still need help, email ShowSubmit Support ([email protected]). We respond Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm Eastern.