John Porter Lasater IV ~ Plein air painter

John Porter Lasater the Fourth developed a love for art working as a designer and illustrator for a division of Hallmark Cards. Fine art was a natural transition after years of study and practice. John now paints full time, both from his studio in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and on the road painting “En plein air”. He also teaches workshops.

Part of John’s mission is to promote the arts in areas currently indifferent to it. He is accomplishing this through Heart of America Artists’ Association, an organization cofounded with artist and friend, Todd A. Williams. John also started a tour called “24 Paintings in 24 Hours” in which he partners with galleries in these art-starved areas by showcasing his ability to do 24 plein air paintings in 24 straight hours.

John’s honors include national plein air painting awards, artist-in-residency’s, a feature article in Plein Air Magazine, and mentions in art magazines including Art of the West, Southwest Art, International Artist and Plein Air Magazine.

John studied under master artists C.W. Mundy, Carolyn Anderson, John Budicin and Todd A. Williams.

'Art is a trifle. I think I can take it too seriously. It will soon be lost in time. I don’t mean the artists are a trifle. What we are doing is of great importance. It’s the art itself that in my mind is of lesser value. Most of us hope and wish that somehow our product will be epic and immortal, and it might be, but I can’t let that be my motivation' - John Porter Lasater IV 

Awards and exhibitions

2014 Judge of Thomas Hart Benton Show, Neosho, Missouri;

2014 Private Plein Air Exhibit for President George W. Bush;

2014 Door County Plein Air Festival;

2014 “BEST OF SHOW” and “COLLECTORS’ CHOICE” Easels in Frederick, Maryland;

2014 “Gallery Award”, Urban Beauty Exhibit, Randy Higbee Gallery, California;

2014 “Honorable Mention”, EnPleinAir Texas, San Angelo, Texas;

2014 “Honorable Mention”, Plein Air Richmond, Virginia;

2014 Plein Air Invitational at Brady, Tulsa, Oklahoma;

2014 “BEST OF SHOW” and “ARTISTS’ CHOICE” Plein Air on the White River, Arkansas;

2014 “2ND PLACE OIL” Augusta Plein Air, Augusta, Missouri;

2014 “Merit Award” First Brush of Spring Paintout, Indiana;

2014 “BEST OF SHOW” Plein Air Southwest, Dallas, Texas;

2014 “THIRD PLACE” Richeson75 Still Life and Floral Exhibit, 2 Paintings in Show;

2014 “Merit Award” Missouri Valley Impressionist Society Annual Show;

2014 “FIRST PLACE” Face Off: A Portraiture Competition, Arkansas Arts Center;

2013 “Watershed Artist Series” Solo Plein Air Exhibition, The Jones Center, AR; 

2013 “ARTISTS/PEOPLES CHOICE” Light on the Land Invitational, St Jo, TX;

2013 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado;

2013 Curator and Exhibitor for the 2013 Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, AR;

2013 Artist in Residence, Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Cave Springs, AR; 

2013 Midwest Gathering of Artists, Carthage, Missouri;

2013 “3RD PLACE” Stems Plein Air, Kansas City, Missouri;

2013 “BEST OF SHOW” and “PEOPLE’S CHOICE” Plein Air on the White River, Arkansas;

2013 “1ST PLACE” Daily Purchase Award, Augusta Plein Air, Missouri;

2013 “Merit Award” First Brush of Spring Paintout, Indiana;

2013 “1ST PLACE” Quick Draw, First Brush of Spring Paintout, Indiana;

2012 “1ST PLACE” Night Painting, Big Cedar Paintout, MO (Judge: John Budicin);

2012 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Big Cedar Paintout, Missouri (Judge: John Budicin);

2012 “Guest Artist” Big Cedar Lodge Plein Air Paintout, Branson, Missouri;

2012 Two Person Plein Air Exhibition, Broadview Country Club, Missouri;

2012 “2ND PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri;

2012 Midwest Gathering of Artists, Carthage, Missouri;

2012 American Plein Air Showcase, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR;

2012 “BEST OF SHOW” and “ARTISTS’ CHOICE” Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado;

2012 “FAV 15%” FineArtViews BoldBrush July Competition; 

2012 “1ST PLACE” Stems Plein Air, Kansas City, Missouri;

2012 One Man Show at artCentral, Carthage, Missouri;

2012 “Honorable Mention” Quick Draw, First Brush of Spring Paintout, Indiana;

2011 Featured Artist, Local Color Gallery, Joplin, Missouri;

2011 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Big Cedar Lodge Paintout, MO (Judge: Matt Smith);

2011 “3RD PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri;

2011 “1ST PLACE” Sangres Art Guild Paintout, Westcliffe, CO (Judge: Joshua Been);

2011 Two Person Show at Cherry’s Gallery, Carthage, Missouri;

2011 “FAV 15%” FineArtViews BoldBrush May Competition;

2011 Callaway Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Georgia;

2011 “3RD PLACE” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri;

2011 Artist in Residence, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri;

2010 “1ST PLACE” Nocturnal, Big Cedar Lodge Paintout, MO (Judge: Guido Frick);

2010 “2ND PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri; 

2010 Cherry’s Gallery Invitational Quick Draw;

2010 Garvan Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Arkansas;

2010 “1ST PLACE” Cotter Trout Festival Plein Air Paintout, Arkansas;

2010 “Purchase Award” Cotter Trout Festival Plein Air Paintout, Arkansas;

2010 “FAV 15%” FineArtViews BoldBrush May Competition;

2010 “2ND PLACE” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri;

2010 Callaway Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Georgia;

2010 Heart of America Artists Rendezvous, Arkansas;

2009 “2ND PLACE” Fort Smith Art Center Plein Air Competition, Arkansas;

2009 Garvan Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Arkansas;

2009 Fort Smith Art Center Competition, Arkansas;

2009 “BEST OF SHOW” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri;

2009 “BEST OF SHOW” Still Life Competition, Fort Smith Art Center, Arkansas;

2009 Judged John Brown University Student Art Competition;

2009 Co-judged Arkansas River Valley Grade School Art Competition;

2009 Heart of America Artists’ Rendezvous, Arkansas;

2009 First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event, Indiana;

2008 Fine Art Connoisseur Publishers Invitational Retreat, Texas;

2008 Judged John Brown University Student Art Competition;

2008 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, Colorado;

2008 First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event, Indiana;

2007 Oil Painters of America, Central Region Competition;

2007 One Man Exhibition, Van Buren Center for Arts and Education, Arkansas;

2007 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, Colorado;

2007 Arkansas State Capitol, Two-year Exhibition;

2006 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, Colorado;

2006 Co-judged First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event, Indiana;

2005 First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event, Indiana;

2005 The Best and The Brightest Show, Scottsdale Artists School, Arizona;

2004 Honorary Scholarship to the Scottsdale Artists School, Arizona.