About the Artist

Melanie Thompson - Biography

Trained as a graphic designer but always an artist at heart, I was first inspired to paint the landscape after working three seasons as a wildland firefighter. Never having spent much time outdoors, I worked weeks at a time with my crew digging fireline, monitoring fire behavior, hiking, and sleeping under the stars. I was deeply moved by the stunning vistas and by the fierce beauty of nature. In each painting I use my training as a designer to intuitively construct simple yet powerful designs reflecting the pure wonder I feel when outdoors.

The most important practice in my development as an artist has been extensively painting on location, or en plein air. Through direct observation I capture the effects of light that often are lost in photographs and use the studies to create a more beautiful and compelling work in the studio. In my mind a painting is not complete, whether created in the studio or on location, until it conveys both the appearance of a place and the feel of a specific moment: the smell of dust, the hot sun, or the cooling shade of a passing cloud.

Recently I have been exploring my homeland, the landscapes of Eastern Washington and Oregon, painting iconic locations such as Hells Canyon and Dry Falls. When confronted with the unique geology of these areas I am reminded of the overwhelming sense of awe I felt as a wildland firefighter. When people see my work depicting these often overlooked landscapes I'd like them to taste the desert air, feel the sun on their skin, and see the splendor of the wild places around all of us.

Memberships

Oil Painters of America
American Impressionist Society
Plein Air Washington Artists

Education

2010

Washington State University
B.A. Digital Technology & Culture, Fine Arts Minor

Awards

2025

Artist Choice, Eagle Plein Air, Eagle, ID
Second Place, Wallowa Valley Plein Air Festival, Joseph, OR
Best Nocturne, Wallowa Valley Plein Air Festival, Joseph, OR
3rd Place, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Suzie Baker

2024

Best Sky, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Ned Mueller
Best in Show, Wallowa Valley Plein Air Festival, Joseph, OR
Best of Show, Eagle Plein Air, Eagle, ID, Awarded by Niles Nordquist
Best Nocturne, Eagle Plein Air, Eagle, ID, Awarded by Niles Nordquist

2023

TOP 100 FINALISTS, Plein Air Magazine September Salon, Awarded by William A. Suys, Jr.

2022

Best Sky, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Paul Kratter
Museum Purchase Award, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA

2021

Best Mountain or Canyon, Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts Plein Air Competition, Joseph, OR
People's Choice, Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts, Joseph, OR
Artist Choice, Plein Air Glacier 2021, Hockaday Museum of Art, Kalispell, Montana

2020

Award Of Excellence, Western Regional Juried Exhibition Of Traditional Oils, Awarded by David Dibble
Best Expression, Plein Air Washington Artists 2020 Winter Exhibition, Awarded by David Santillanes

2019

1st Place, Monuments & Canyons Plein Air Invitational, Grand Junction, CO, Awarded by Dan Young
Artist Choice, Monuments & Canyons Plein Air Invitational, Grand Junction, CO
Award Of Merit, Main Street Paint Out, Sedona Plein Air Festival, Sedona, AZ
Artist Choice, Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts Plein Air Competition, Joseph, OR
Northwest Regional Landscape Award, Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts, Joseph, OR, Awarded by Bonnie Laing-Malcolmson
3rd Place, Little Gems, Plein Air Washington Artists, Anacortes, WA, Awarded by Mitch Baird
Best Sky, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Patrick Saunders
3rd Place, Kern County Plein Air Festival, Bakersfield, CA, Awarded by Paul Kratter

2018

Artist Choice, Best Body Of Work, Sedona Plein Air Festival, Sedona, Arizona
Best in Show, 2nd Annual American Impressionist Society Impressions Small Works Showcase, Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, Juried by Kenn Backhaus
Museum Purchase Award, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Selected by Curator Steven L. Grafe
Honorable Mention, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Randall Sexton
Petite Painting Sale 1st Place, Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, WA
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine February/March Salon, Awarded by Kathy Anderson
Honorable Mention, Little Gems, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, Wa, Awarded by Michele Usibelli

2017

Best Oil, Plein Air Magazine August/September Salon, Awarded by David A. Leffel
First Place, En Plein Air Competition, Wallowa Valley Festival of Art, Awarded by Malcolm Phinney
Northwest Region Landscape Award, Wallowa Valley Festival of Art, Joseph, Oregon, Awarded by Bonnie Z. Griffith
Spirit of the Peninsula Award, Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, WA, Awarded by Catherine Gill
Petite Painting Sale 2nd Place, Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, WA
Best Sky, Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, WA, Awarded by Mike Hernandez
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine June/July Salon, Awarded by Thomas W. Schaller
Third Place, Little Gems 2017, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Awarded by Lois Griffel
Honorable Mention, 6th Annual Plein Air Salon
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine December/January Salon, Awarded by Jean Stearn
Best Oil, Plein Air Magazine December/January Salon, Awarded by Jean Stearn

2016

1st Place, "A National Park Salute," American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Awarded by Jim McVicker
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine October/November Salon, Awarded by C.W. Mundy
Award of Merit, Sedona Plein Air Invitational, Sedona Fine Art Center, Sedona, AZ, Awarded by Lori Putnam
Award of Distinction, American Impressionist Society National Exhibition, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA, Awarded by Calvin Liang
3rd Place, Boldbrush Online Painting Competition, Awarded by Joseph Todorovtich
Best Landscape, "Paint the Peninsula," Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, WA, Awarded by Christine Debrosky
Directors Choice, 34th Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR
Honorable Mention, 34th Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Awarded by Steve Henderson
Gold Award, Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibition, Gallery at the Park, Richland, WA, Awarded by Judy Vogland
Best in Show, "Little Gems," Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Awarded by Thomas Kitts

2015

Second Place, "From Meadows to Mountains," American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Awarded by Michael Situ
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine August/September Salon, Awarded by Scott Jones
Best Mountain, Plein Air Pacific Northwest, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, Or, Awarded by Brian Mark Taylor
Best Artist Under 30, Plein Air Magazine June/July Salon, Awarded by Bob Malenfant
First Place, 33rd Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Awarded by Paul Hoelscher

2014

Best in Show, The Northwest Experience, Clymer Museum and Gallery, Ellensburg, WA, Awarded by Gregg Schlanger and Michael J. Lewis
Second Place, Plein Air Washington Annual Show, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Awarded by Jeremy Lipking
Best Mountain, 10th Annual Plein Air Pacific Northwest, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, Or, Awarded by Kathryn Stats
Second Place, 32nd Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Awarded by Sandy Brook and Henry Sayre

2013

Second Place, Plein Air Washington Artists Salute Washington State Parks, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Awarded by Eric Jacobsen

Select Exhibits & Events

2022

Juror, Palouse Plein Air, Third Street Gallery, Moscow, Idaho
American Impressionist Society 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, Colorado
Plein Air Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, Montana
Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington
Little Gems, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, Washington
Plein Air Washington Artists Plein Air Paint-Out, Gallery at the Park, Richland, Washington
Plein Air Washington Artists Juried Exhibition, Gallery at the Park, Richland, Washington

2021

Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts, Joseph, Oregon
235 Smaller Works Show, Frame of Reference Fine Art, Whitefish, Montana
Plein Air Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, Montana
Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington

2020

235 Smaller Works Show, Frame of Reference Fine Art, Whitefish, Montana
Oil Painters of America 29th Annual National Exhibition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg Texas
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg Texas
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition Of Traditional Oils, Virtual
Plein Air Washington Artists 2020 Winter Exhibition, Virtual
Plein Air Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, Montana

2019

Sedona Plein Air Festival, Sedona Art Center, Sedona, Arizona
Colorado National Monument Plein Air, Grand Junction, Colorado
235 Smaller Works Show, Frame of Reference Fine Art, Whitefish, Montana
Little Gems, Anacortes, Washington
Wallowa Valley Festival Of Arts, Joseph, Oregon
Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington
Plein Air Glacier, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT
Kern County Plein Air, Bakersfield, California

2018

Milestone: A Solo Exhibition, American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington
Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles Fine Art Center, Port Angeles, Washington
Sonoma Plein Air, Sonoma, California
Sedona Plein Air Festival, Sedona Art Center, Sedona, Arizona
Little Gems, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, Washington

2017

American Impressionist Society 18th Annual Exhibition, Montgomery-Lee Gallery, Park City, UT, Juried by Albert Handell
Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts, Joseph, OR, Juried by Bonnie Z. Griffith
Hockaday Museum Plein Air Paint Out, Hockaday Museum, Kalispell, MT
Four Northwest Artists, Gallery at the Park, Richland, WA
Sedona Plein Air Invitational Festival, Sedona Art Center, Sedona, AZ
Pacific Northwest Plein Air, Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Wa, Juried by Mike Hernandez
Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles, WA
The Favell Museum Juried Art Show & Sale, Klamath Falls, OR
Little Gems, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Juried by Lois Griffel
Plein Air Southwest Salon, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX, Juried by Kenn Erroll Backhaus
American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA, Juried by Peggi Kroll-Roberts

2016

Oil Painters of America Salon, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, Juried by Carolyn Lewis
Sedona Plein Air Invitational Festival, Sedona Art Center, Sedona, AZ, Juried by Lori Putnam
American Impressionist Society National Exhibition, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA, Juried by Calvin Liang
A National Park Salute: Plein Air Washington Artists Annual Exhibition, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Juried by Jim McVicker
Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles, WA, Juried by Christine Debrosky
Little Gems 2016, Scott Milo Gallery, Anacortes, WA, Juried by Thomas Kitts
The Favell Museum Juried Art Show & Sale, Klamath Falls, OR
34th Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Juried by Steve Henderson
Allied Arts Annual Juried Exhibition, Gallery at the Park, Richland, WA, Juried by Judy Vogland
Lighthouse Plein Air Festival, Lighthouse Art Center, Tequesta, FL, Juried by Jim McVicker
Plein Air Southwest Salon, Outdoor Painter Society, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX, Juried by Marc Hanson

2015

Meadows to Mountains: Plein Air Washington Artists Annual Exhibition, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Juried by Michael Situ
Oil Painters of America Salon, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL, Juried by Calvin Liang
Paint the Peninsula, Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, Port Angeles, WA, Juried by Gil Dellinger
Plein Air Pacific Northwest, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR, Juried by Brian Mark Taylor
33rd Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Juried by Paul Hoelscher
Solo Exhibition: Western Vision, Clymer Museum & Gallery, Ellensburg, WA
Spring Online International Exhibition, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society, Juried by Timothy Tyler

2014

Nature's Gift of Water: Plein Air Washington Artists Annual Exhibition, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Juried by Jeremy Lipking
Plein Air Pacific Northwest, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR, Juried by Kathryn Stats
Expressions Northwest, Northwind Art Center, Port Townsend, WA Juried by Greg Robinson
32nd Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Juried by Sandy Brook and Henry Sayre
The Northwest Experience, Clymer Museum and Gallery, Ellensburg, WA, Juried by Gregg Schlanger and Michael J. Lewis

2013

Plein Air Washington Artists Salute Washington State Parks, American Art Company, Tacoma, WA, Juried by Eric Jacobsen
Plein Air Pacific Northwest, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, OR, Juried by Becky Joy
31st Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, Joseph, OR, Juried by Steve Henderson

Publications

2021

10 Artists to Collect Now, Plein Air Magazine, p. 67, Oct/Nov 2021
Wildfires spark artist Melanie Thompson's landscapes, Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Jun 2021

2018

Emerging Artists, Southwest Art, Jul 2018

2017

$31,500 Awarded to PleinAir Salon Winners, Plein Air Magazine, p. 21, Jun/Jul 2017
June/July Salon Winners Announced, Plein Air Magazine, p.81, Oct/Nov 2017
PleinAir Salon Winners Announced, Plein Air Magazine, p. 118, Apr/May 2017

2016

Recent PleinAir Salon Winners, Plein Air Magazine, p.113, Feb/Mar 2016
New Finalists in PleinAir Salon Competition, Plein Air Magazine, p. 77, Dec 2015/Jan 2016

2015

June/July PleinAir Salon Winners Announced, Plein Air Magazine, Nov 2015
21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch, Southwest Art, p. 102, Sep 2015