
Richard Prather








About Richard
“Two passions have dominated my life – the great outdoors and painting it”
Richard’s landscape paintings have an immediate credibility which comes from his experience working in the outdoors. Academically trained as a Wildlife Biologist, Richard spent a 30-year career working in the field of environmental restoration and protection. As an artist, Richard is largely self-taught having begun painting while in college more that 40 years ago. Richard’s talent as an artist has gained notable recognition in recent years by winning awards at both the regional and national levels. Richard resides in Placitas, New Mexico, with his wife Sharla and their dog Coty.
Professional Affiliations:
Signature Member, Oil Painters of America
Master Signature Member, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico
Selected Shows and Awards:
2022:
First Place Signature Division, Oil Painters of America, Fall online Showcase. Judge Camille Przewodek OPAM
OPA National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Steamboat Springs, CO.
Art on the Llano Estacado Art Exhibition and Sale, Texas Tech University Museum, Lubbock, TX.
Finalist, October Boldbrush Painting Competition. Juror Calvin Liang
2021:
Albuquerque Museum ArtsThrive Exhibition and Benefit
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition, Wichita, Kansas
2020:
Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, National Salon Show
Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Show
14th Annual Plein Air Invitational, Borrego Springs, CA. Quick Draw Winner
2019:
Oil Painters of America, 28th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils. Illume Gallery of Fine Arts, Saint George, Utah.
Montana Miniatures, Bitterroot Frames, Juried Exhibition
The 6th Art on the Llano Estacado Art Exhibition and Sale, Texas Tech University Museum, Lubbock, TX.
South Park Plein Air Arts Celebration, Town of Fairplay, CO. Poster Award
ArtsThrive, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM.
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, Sorrell Skys Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
2018:
Fechin Invitational Winter Exhibition?~ The Signature and Master Signature Members of Plein Air Painters of New Mexico ~
BoldBrush Award, July 2018, BoldBrush Painting Competition.
Oil Painters of America, 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils. Steamboat Museum of Art, Steamboat Springs, CO.
Oil Painters of America, 2018 Salon Show Juried Exhibition, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, MI
ArtsThrive, Albuquerque Museum, Abq. NM.
5th annual Art on the Llano Estacado Art Exhibition and Sale, Texas Tech University Museum, Lubbock, TX
Art Muse Contest, March Master Class Finalist
2017:
PAPNM, Annual Membership Show, Master Signature Member Exhibit.
Telluride Invitational Plein Air Event.
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition in Saint George, Utah.
One Man Show, Purple Sage Gallery, Albuquerque, NM.
“Rabbitbrush” was awarded the honor Finalist by William Suys in the January Bold Brush Competition
“Canyon Shade”, Finalist in Master Category, Art Muse On-Line Competition. Juror, Marc Hanson.
2016:
Award of Excellence in Oils, PAPNM Annual Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
Award of Excellence, Encantada, Fine Arts Building, Albuquerque, NM
Award of Excellence in Oil or Acrylic, Santa Fe Plein Air Festival, Plein Air Painters New Mexico,
Outdoor Painters Society, Plein Air Salon Southwest, Dallas, TX
The Museum of Texas Tech University, Art on the Llano Estacado, Invitational Show
Master Works of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque Museum of Art, Miniatures and More Invitational
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ
Master Class Finalist, ArtMuse On-Line Art Contest, Juror Terry Miura
2015:
Santa Fe Plein Air Art Festival, Award of Excellence in Oil or Acrylic.
Virtuosos of OPA, Salmagundi Club, NY, NY.
12th Annual Telluride Plein Air Event.
CAC Paint The Rockies, Estes Park, CO.
Art for the Endangered Landscape, Durango CO.
Big Places Small Spaces, One Man Show, Purple Sage Gallery, Alb. NM
Mountain Oyster Club, Annual Exhibition and Sale, Tucson, AZ
2014:
Oil Painters of America, 23rd National Exhibition, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT.
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Show, Carmel by the Sea, CA
Purchase Award, National Small Oil Painting Exhibition, Wichita Center for the Arts.
CAC Fine Art Gallery, Long May They Run; A Tribute to American Wildlife, Invited Artist, Estes Park, CO
Artist Choice Award- Arte de Los Brazos, Art Show, Possum Kingdom, TX
Marjorie Kirtley Award of Merit, 4th Annual Texas Spirit Art Show, Graham, TX
3rd Place, 2nd Annual Paint Santa Fe, Inart Gallery, Sante Fe, NM.
CAC Arts for the Parks Show, Estes Park, CO
FAV15% February BoldBrush Painting Competition
FAV15% April BoldBrush Painting Competition
Fav 15% August, BoldBrush Painting Competition
2013:
Best of Show Award, PAPNM, Paint Santa Fe, Gary Kim Gallery
Monthly Finalist, Bold Brush On-line Competition
Oil Painters of America, 22nd National Exhibition, InSight Gallery
Art for the Parks, CAC Gallery, Estes Park
Served as Juror for Paint Historic Waxahachie, Ellis Co. Arts Association.
2012:
Oil Painters of America, 21st National Exhibition, Evergreen Fine Art Gallery
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, Gallery 1261
Richardson Civic Art Society, 46th Annual juried Art Exhibition, Eisemann Center, Best of Show/Purchase Award
Paint the Rockies 2012, Town of Estes Park Silver Award
RayMar Fine Art Competition; February Finalist
Plein Air Southwest Salon 2012, Southwest Gallery, Dallas TX, Artists Choice and Progressive Service Merit Award
Salon International Fine Art Show, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio TX
2011:
Salon International, Green House Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Plein-Air Southwest, Honorable Mention, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
26th Annual Bosque Art Classic, Clifton Texas, Bosque Arts Center
Plein Air Rockies 2011, Estes Park, Colorado,
Arts of the Park, Cultural Arts Council, Estes Park Colorado
Plein Air Painters New Mexico, Land and Light Show, Millicent Rogers Museum, Jack Richeson Award
Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Show, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga California
2010:
American Plains Artist Show, Lincoln, NE.
Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Nomadus del Arte, Southwest Gallery, Dallas TX
Paint the Town, marble Falls, TX
PAAC Juried members Show, Saks Galleries, Denver CO.
CampFire USA Paint Out, Paint Our Children’s Future
Mountain Oyster Club, 41st Annual Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
2009: Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WS
Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX?PAPNM Award, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Taos, NM Annual Paint Out
Mountain Oyster Club, Fortieth Annual Contemporary Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
Outdoor Painter Society, Plein Air Southwest Honorable Mention, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
Camp Fire USA, Second Annual Invitational Paint Out, Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
2008: Awarded Signature Membership Status, Oil Painters of America
Artist in the Garden, Camp Fire USA Paint Out, 2nd place Johnston and Matthews Award of Excellence
Top 100, Paint the Parks, National Competition Paint America?17th Annual Oil Painters of America Exhibition of Traditional Oils, National Show, Missoula, MT.?23rd Annual Conservatory Art Classic, Clifton, TX ?National Small Oil Exhibit, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita Kansas,
2007: 16th Annual Oil Painters of America Exhibition of Traditional Oils, National Show, Fredericksburg, TX?Salon International 2007, San Antonio, TX : Jury’s Top Fifty Award.?Telluride Plein Air 2007, Telluride, CO?
2006: Oil Painters of America (OPA) 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Missoula, Montana?One Man Show, Fairmount Gallery, Dallas Texas?Silver Medal, Old Bank Gallery, 2 Annual Juried National Show, Ada, Ok?2nd Place, Oils/Acrylics, RCAS, 40th Annual Regional Show, Richardson, TX? Invited Artist, Paint Historic Manitou Springs, Plein Air Paint Out, Colorado
2005: PANM, Invitational Exhibition, Ventana Gallery, Santa Fe, NM?Top 100, Arts for the Parks, National Juried Competition, Mini 100, Arts for the Parks, National Juried Competition, Paint in the Park, Estes Park, CO.
Publications featured in:
“A Common Vision”, by Michael and Peggy Lewis, 2008
Vol.1, “Plein Air Painters of New Mexico”, Jack Richeson Publications, 2006