Michael Situ Michael Situ is a nationally recognized and award winning artist in the United States. He is a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, Signature Member of Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, Artist Member of California Art Club, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association . He is a contemporary artist of the Early California Impressionist Style. He is known for his luminous and richly colored landscapes of the coasts, mountains, desert, and various scenes that capture his imagination. Growing up in China where he completed his art education at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, Situ developed a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for art. Michael arrived in the America in 1989 and now lives in Southern California. He is a full time professional artist whose artwork has been exhibited in numerous national major competitions, museums, and national juried exhibitions such as the Arts for the Parks Top 100 International Competition, the California Art Club's Annual Golden Medal Juried Exhibition, the Oil Painters of America's National Juried Exhibition, and the Masters of Fine Art Salon International. Various national and international art publications such as International Artist magazine have 12 page featured his article and paintings in the February/March 2006 and Southwest Art, Art of the West, American Art Collector, Art-Talk , Plein Air magazine have highlighted and featured Michael Situ and his artwork. His paintings are collected throughout the U.S. and internationally. Michael has been honored by a number of awards, including "Second Place" Raymarart Second Annual Fine Art Competition 2007 "First Place" Huntington Beach Art Center Plein Air Festival 2007. "First Place" 6th Annual San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition 2007. "Artist Choice Award" at the Sonoma Plein Air 2004 , "Museum Purchase Award" at the Maritime Museum Plein Air Paintings Festival 2002 and "Best of Show" at the La Quinta Desert Plein Air competition 2001. Awards "4th Place Quick Draw" - 7th Annual San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition. San Clemente Art association. June, 2008 "Honorable Mention" - 7th Annual San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition. San Clemente Art association. June, 2008 "Award for Excellence" -the Oil Painters of America's 17th Annual National Juried Exhibition. May, 2008 "Second Place" - Raymarart Second Annual Fine Art Competition. December, 2007 "First Place" - Huntington Beach Art Center Plein Air Festival. September, 2007 "First Place" - 6th Annual San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition. San Clemente Art association. June, 2007 "Honorable Mention" - 6th Annual San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition. San Clemente Art association. June, 2007 "Honorable Mention" - 14th Annual Carmel Art Festival. May, 2007 "Special Award" - 3rd Annual The Best of Plein Air. Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. March, 2007 "First Honorable Mention" - Huntington Beach Art Center Plein Air Festival 2006 "Jury's Top Fifty" - the Masters of Fine Art Salon Internationa Juried Exhibition 2006 "Award for Excellence" -the Oil Painters of America's 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition 2006 "Finalist" - RayMar's First Annual Fine Art Competition 2006 "Third Place" -2nd Annual The Best of Plein Air. Laguna Plein Air Painters Association 2006 "Poster Artist" -Sonoma Plein Air. Sonoma Plein Air Foundation 2005. "Artist's Choice Award" -Sonoma Plein Air 2004. Sonoma Plein Air Foundation 2004. "SouthwestArt & Plein Air Magazine Award" - Sonoma Plein Air Foundation 2004. " Award for Excellence. Mini 100 & Top 200 Paintings". Arts for the Parks International Competition 2004 "Honorable Mention" - Bowers Museum. 8th Annual Plein Air Sights of Southern California 2004 " Award for Excellence. Top 100 & Mini 50 Paintings". Arts for the Parks International Competition 2003 "Third Place" - California Art Club 9th Annual Mission San Juan Capistrano Competition & Exhibition 2003 "Jury's Top Fifty" - the Masters of Fine Art Salon Internationa Juried Exhibition 2002 "Poster Artist" - California Art Club Paintings of The Old Mill II Competition 2002 "Third Place" - Bowers Museum. 6th Annual Plein Air Sights of Santa Ana 2002 " Award for Excellence. Top 100 & Top 200 Paintings". Arts for the Parks International Competition 2002 "Maritime Museum Purchase Award" - Maritime Museum.2nd Maurice Braun Memorial Plein Air Paintings Festival 2002 "Recognition Award" - Orange Art Association 2002 "Merchandise Award" - Orange Art Association 2002 " Award of Excellence" - La Quinta Desert Plein Air Competition La Quinta Art Foundation.2002 "Honorable Mention" - Bowers Museum. 5th Annual Plein Air Sights of Santa Ana 2001 "Honorable Mention" - 8th Annual Orange All Media Juried Fine Art Exhibition 2001 "Third Place" - Rancho Los Alamitos Plein Aire Competition 2001 "Recognition Award" - Orange Art Association 2001 "Best of Show" - La Quinta Desert Plein Air Competition.La Quinta Art Foundation. 2001 "Honorable Mention" - 7th Annual Orange All Media Juried Fine Art Exhibition 2000 "Merchandise Award" - Orange Art Association 2000 Selected Publications "The Overseas Oil Painter of China-Oil painting of Michael Situ" Art book.Tainjin People's Fine Art Publishing House of China. June 2008 "Strokes of Genius" The Orange County Register. June 2007 "Strokes of Genius" SC Sun Post News. June 2007 "Michael Situ Winner of San Clemente Plein Air Competition" SC Times. June 2007 "Michael Situ won First Place San Clemente Plein Air Competition" Chinese Daily News. June 2007 "Best of America Oil Artists" Kennedy Pulishing. May 2007 "Use the Color and light You See to Sharpen Your Landscape"International Artist Magazine February/March 2006 "100 Way to Paint Seascapes, Rivers & Lakes" International Artist Magazine.October 2004 "100 Way to Paint Landscapes" International Artist Magazine.June 2004 " For the love of the Land" Art of the West Magazine. May/June 2004 " Painting the Canyon"Art of the West Magazine.November/December 2003 "The More,The Merrier-Canyon de Chelly trip" Art-Talk. November/December 2003 "Recent Award Winners" American Artist Magazine. November 2003 "On the Scene" Southwest Art Magazine. November 2003 "Mission San Juan Capistrano:AQuotable,As Well As Paintable Event" California Art Club Newsletter December 2003 "On the Scene" Southwest Art Magazine. May 2001 "Landscapes From China to Sounthen California move Michael Situ to Paint" Irvine World News. April 2001 "Michael Situ won Best of Show at La Quinta" Chinese Daily News. February 2001 "Winners of the Plein Air Award" The Desert Sun. January 2001 "Art and About Santa Ana" Los Angeles Time. September 2000 Collections Maritime museum, Joan Irvine Smith - Founder and president of Irvine museum and numerous private collections throughout the U.S. and internationally Professional Organizations Oil Painters of America - Signature member Rocky Mountain Plein Air painters - Signature member California Art Club - Artist member Laguna Plein Air Painters Association - Artist member Corner of First Street 9x12 Oil on Canvas Panel Judge's Critque: This might be my favorite overall! Everything is perfect! (Design, values, color, edges, paint quality) Congratulations for a wonderful work of art. - CW Mundy All images and written materials copyrighted © by Michael Situ 2000 - 2008. All rights reserved.