Born and raised in Houston, John Lasater is an acclaimed artist currently residing in the picturesque hills of Northwest Arkansas. Initially recognized for his impressionistic style and bold brushwork, Lasater has undergone transformation through extensive travels and deep historical and experimental self-studies. This evolution has led his recent works to have a more contemplative and simplified approach.
A prolific figure in the plein air scene for many years, Lasater is widely regarded as one of the premier outdoor painters in America, evidenced by his invitation to join the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America. His numerous accolades include close to 50 top awards at events such as Door County Plein Air, Sedona Plein Air, Maui Plein Air Invitational, Plein Air Southwest Salon, and the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art. While outdoor painting remains integral to his artistic process, Lasater continues to push the boundaries of his craft with unwavering dedication and passion.​
As a representational painter, I’m attracted to the variety of formal possibilities in a motif; characteristics like the shapes of shadows or the colors of forms. I respond with playfulness, then objectivity, then moments of raw emotion, which often look like rescuing the effort with a unified simplification, or messing it up to give myself more problems to solve.
My hopes going forward are to integrate an ever-developing love of art history, and a deeper reliance on my imagination. It’s wonderful to spend a portion of my time giving back, and I hope to continue inspiring through writing and teaching; and more importantly, through a life dedicated to artistry.
COLLECTIONS OR COMMISSIONS
Bass Pro Shops
Payne’s Valley (A Tiger Woods Golf Course)
James L. and Gretchen Johnson (Johnson & Johnson)
Arkansas Game and Fish Quail Stamp 2021
Leggett & Platt Incorporated
Arkansas College of Health Education
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Van Buren Center for Art and Education
College of the Ozarks
Northwest Arkansas Community College
Lindenwood University
John Brown University
George and Peggy Rapp
Hamel Family Wines
Big Cedar Lodge Resort
Top of the Rock Resort
Gaston’s White River Resort
Illinois River Watershed Partnership
ARTIST COLLECTIONS
Joshua Been
Jill Carver
John Cook
Mark Fehlman
Kathleen Hudson
Charlie Hunter
Lori Putnam
James Richards
Carl Bretzke
Jason Sacran
Andy Thomas
Nancy Boren
MEMBERSHIPS
Plein Air Painters of America - Signature Member 2024-
Views Community of Painters - Founder 2020-
Heart of America Artists Association - Founder 2009-
Outdoor Painters Society - Master Signature Member, 2018-2023
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association - Signature Member, 2016-2019
Oil Painters of America, 2009-2019
Portrait Society of America, 2019-2020
AWARDS
2024 "BEST OF SHOW" - Boldbrush Painting Competition, August
2024 "3RD PLACE" - Boldbrush Painting Competition, May
2023 "Artist Choice (top prize)", Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
2023 "Finalist, Still Life", Almenara Art Prize, Spain
2023 "2ND PLACE - Oil and Acrylic", Richeson75 International Small Works Exhibition, Wisconsin
2022 "2ND PLACE", Plein Air Southwest, Galveston, Texas (Judge: Mitch Baird)
2021 "2ND PLACE", Plein Air Southwest, Galveston, Texas (Judge: Roger Dale Brown)
2020 "Award of Merit", Door County Plein Air Festival, Wisconsin (Judge: Randall Sexton)
2020 "Judges Award", Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, Georgia
2019 "1ST PLACE", Door County Plein Air Festival, Wisconsin (Judge: Tim Newton)
2019 "Top 100", BP Portrait Award
2019 "3RD PLACE" ANA Celebration of Art Exhibition (Judge: Dean Mitchell)
2018 “2ND PLACE”, Door County Plein Air Festival, Wisconsin (Judge: C.W. Mundy)
2018 “Honorable Mention”, Richeson75 International Figure/Portrait Exhibition
2018 Master Class Winner, January ArtMuse Online Contest
2018 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Forgotten Coast Plein Air Invitational, Florida
2018 Master Class Finalist, November ArtMuse Online Contest
2017 “BEST OF SHOW”, Plein Air Southwest Salon, Dallas, Texas (Judge: Kenn Backhaus)
2017 “Spirit of Atlanta (Top 3)”, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, Georgia
2017 “Best Architectural Painting”, EnPleinAir Texas, San Angelo, Texas
2016 “BEST OF SHOW” and “ARTISTS’ CHOICE”, Easels in Frederick, Maryland
2016 “ARTISTS’ CHOICE” and “COLLECTORS’ CHOICE”, Maui Plein Air Invitational, Hawaii
2016 “Award of Excellence”, Plein Air Southwest Salon, Dallas, Texas (Judge: Marc Hanson)
2016 “Honorable Mention (Top 5)”, Best of Plein Air Show, Laguna Plein Air Painters, California
2016 “Honorable Mention (Top 5)”, Door County Plein Air Festival, Wisconsin
2015 “BEST OF SHOW”, Sedona Plein Air Festival, Arizona (Judge: Randall Sexton)
2015 “1ST PLACE”, Door County Plein Air Festival, Wisconsin (Judge: Lori Putnam)
2015 “1ST PLACE” and “ARTISTS’ CHOICE”, Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado
2015 “Still Life-Award of Excellence”, Oil Painters of America National Exhibition
2015 “Award of Excellence”, Plein Air Southwest Salon, Dallas, Texas
2015 “Best of Show”, Rice Gallery Juried Plein Air Gallery Exhibition, Kansas City
2015 “2ND PLACE”, Telluride Plein Air, Colorado
2015 “Spirit of San Angelo Award”, EnPleinAir Texas, San Angelo, Texas
2015 “1ST PLACE” (non-juried category), Quick Draw, Paint Annapolis
2015 “Honorable Mention”, Easels in Frederick, Maryland
2015 “Finalist”, Gateway to Sedona Artist Competition, January
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 “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 Salon, Dallas, Texas (Judge: Jill Carver)
2014 “3RD 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 “ARTISTS/PEOPLES CHOICE” Light on the Land Invitational, St Jo, Texas
2013 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado
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, Missouri (Judge: John Budicin)
2012 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Big Cedar Paintout, Missouri (Judge: John Budicin)
2012 “2ND PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri
2012 “BEST OF SHOW” and “ARTISTS’ CHOICE” Plein Air Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado
2012 “1ST PLACE” Stems Plein Air, Kansas City, Missouri
2011 “2ND PLACE” Quick Draw, Big Cedar Lodge Paintout, Missouri (Judge: Matt Smith)
2011 “3RD PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri
2011 “1ST PLACE” Sangres Art Guild Paintout, Westcliffe, Colorado (Judge: Joshua Been)
2011 “3RD PLACE” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri
2010 “1ST PLACE” Nocturnal, Big Cedar Lodge Paintout, Missouri (Judge: Guido Frick)
2010 “2ND PLACE” Maple Leaf Festival Plein Air Paintout, Missouri
2010 “1ST PLACE” White River Plein Air Festival, Arkansas
2010 “2ND PLACE” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri
2009 “BEST OF SHOW” St. Avips Art Auction and Ball, Missouri
2009 “BEST OF SHOW” Still Life Competition, Fort Smith Art Center, Arkansas
EXHIBITIONS
2024 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
2024 Solo 25-Year Retrospective, John Brown University, Arkansas
2024 Solo Show, Historic Cane Hill Museum, Arkansas
2023 Almenara Art Prize, Spain
2023 Grand Canyon Celebration of Art
2022 Two Person Show, Arts on Main, Arkansas
2022 Eye to Eye - Painter and Sculptor, 3-day Public Demonstration, Missouri
2021 Solo Show, River Valley Arts Center, Arkansas
2020 Moments: The Plein Air Movement, Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, Indiana
2020 Delta Exhibition, Little Rock, Arkansas
2019 California Impressionists: The Masters & The Greats They Inspire, California
2019 Richeson75 Portrait/Figure Exhibition
2019 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, St. George, Utah
2019 American Impressionist Small Works Exhibition, Petoskey, Michigan
2019 Arkansas Territory Collection & Exhibition
2018 Manifest Gallery, Plein Air Exhibit, Cincinnati, Ohio
2018 Richeson 75 International, Figure/Portrait
2018 Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Best of Plein Air
2018 Two Man Show, Oh Be Joyful Gallery, Crested Butte, Colorado
2018 Delta Exhibition, Little Rock, Arkansas
2017 Oil Painters of America Eastern Exhibition
2017 American Impressionist Society National Exhibition
2017 Easton Plein Air Juried Invitational
2017 American Impressionist Society Small Works Exhibition
2017 Invited Artist, Maui Plein Air Invitational, Maui, Hawaii
2017 Two Person Show, South Arkansas Artists Center, El Dorado, Arkansas
2017 Two Person Show, Justus Fine Art, Hot Springs, Arkansas
2016 American Impressionist Society National Exhibition
2016 Invited Artist, Forgotten Coast Plein Air, Apalachacola, Florida
2016 Invited Artist, Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational
2016 Invited Artist, Easton Plein Air Invitational
2016 Plein Air Painting Exhibition, Lindenwood University, St. Louis, Missouri
2015 Co-curator for the 2015 Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, Arkansas
2015 Invited Artist, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, Georgia
2014 Private Plein Air Exhibit for President George W. Bush
2014 Delta Exhibition, Little Rock, Arkansa
2014 Invited Artist, Door County Plein Air Festival
2014 Invited Artist, Plein Air Invitational at Henry Zarrow Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2014 “Watershed Artist Series” Solo Plein Air Exhibition, IRWP, Cave Springs, Arkansas
2014 Co-curator for the 2014 Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, Arkansas
2013 “Watershed Artist Series” Solo Plein Air Exhibition, The Jones Center, Arkansas
2013 Co-curator for the 2013 Illinois River Salon, Bentonville, Arkansas
2012 “Guest Artist” Big Cedar Lodge Plein Air Paintout, Branson, Missouri
2012 Two Person Show, Broadview Country Club, Missouri
2012 American Plein Air Showcase, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
2012 Solo Show at artCentral, Carthage, Missouri
2011 Featured Artist, Local Color Gallery, Joplin, Missouri
2011 Two Person Show at Cherry’s Gallery, Carthage, Missouri
2011 Invited Artist, Callaway Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Georgia
2010 Invited Artist, Garvan Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Arkansas
2010 Invited Artist, Callaway Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Georgia
2009 Invited Artist, Garvan Gardens Plein Air Invitational, Arkansas
2008 Invited Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur Publishers Invitational Retreat, Texas
2007 Oil Painters of America, Central Region Competition
2007 Solo Show, Van Buren Center for Arts and Education, Arkansas
2007 Arkansas State Capitol, Two-year Exhibition
2005 The Best and The Brightest Show, Scottsdale Artists School, Arizona
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Up Your Average, Episode 27, 2025
The Boldbrush Show, Episode 95, 2024
Plein Air Techniques For Artists, 2023, book by Aimee Erickson
Reasonably Fine Art Talk Video, December 2022, "#79 REASONABLY FINE ART TALK: John P. Lasater IV"
The Arkansas Art Scene Blog, October 2022, "Interview with Artist John Lasater"
Fine Art Connoisseur, May/June 2021, pg. 46, "Classic Moment" (Full page feature of "All I Need" self portrait)
Revelations of the Artist, Articles on Art and Faith, 2020, pg. 46-49
The Artful Painter Podcast, John P. Lasater IV - Aiming for Something Higher, May 2020
Western Art Collector, Collector's Focus, March 2020, pg. 148
Plein Air Podcast Interview with Eric Rhoads, April 2019
Aeqai, December 2, 2018, Plein Air: Art Made Outdoors
Southwest Art, October 2018, “En Plein Air Texas”, pg. 46
Plein Air Magazine, October/November 2018, “Jaw Dropping Displays of Talent in Door County”, pg. 82
OutdoorPainter.com, August 2018, Door County Plein Air Festival: Winners Announced
The Art of Plein Air Painting, 2017, book by M. Stephen Doherty
Oil Painters of America Blog, April 10, 2017, How is Art Like Surfing?
OutdoorPainter.com, February 20, 2017, EXHIBITION: John P. Lasater IV and Jason Sacran, in Arkansas
Plein Air Magazine (Online Edition), December 2016, Finding Direction in Historic Masterpieces
Lines and Colors Blog, December 2016, John P. Lasater
Plein Air Magazine, November 2016, “Winners in Door County”, pg. 80. “What Happened in Frederick, MD”, pg. 81
Sankofa Review, October 2016, Honest Strokes of John Lasater
Oil Painters of America Blog, April 25, 2016, The Twelve O’Clock – A Case for Representational Painting in the 21st Century
Parka Blogs, February 2016, Art Tools of John Lasater
In The Artist Studio, January 2016, Ask the Expert…John Lasater IV
Southwest Art, September 2015, “Plein Air Rockies”, pg. 70
Southwest Art, June 2015, “Connecting with Beauty”, Artist Profile
PleinAirCollector.com, April 2015, Plein Air Southwest Salon Winners Announced
Southwest Art, April 2015, Show Preview | Outdoor Painters Society Show
OutdoorPainter.com, February 2015, Spotlight on PACE Faculty: John P. Lasater IV
PleinAirCollector.com, November 2014, First Year Strong for San Angelo, Texas, Event
Plein Air Magazine, Oct/Nov 2014, “Sharing the Plein Air Journey”, Artist Profile
Southwest Art Magazine, October 2014, FULL-PAGE Advertisement
Plein Air Magazine, September 2014, “Winners in Plein Air on the White River”, pg. 78
International Artist Magazine, October/November 2014, “Advance Practice In Art, Part 2” by Tim Breaux
Artists Helping Artists Podcast, August 2014, A Conversation with Artist John Lasater
OutdoorPainter.com, August 2014, Who Is Featured in the Next Issue of PleinAir Magazine?
OutdoorPainter.com, July 2014, Lasater Paints 24 Paintings in 24 Hours Again
PleinAirCollector.com, July 2014, Two From Arkansas Win Big at Easels in Frederick
John Pototschnik Blog Interview, May 2014, John Porter Lasater IV Interview
OutdoorPainter.com, March 2014, Building an Audience for Art — What Can We Do?
OutdoorPainter.com, March 2014, Diebenkorn Can Set You Free
OutdoorPainter.com, April 2014, Winners at Plein Air Southwest Salon
Richeson75 Still Life & Floral Exhibit 2014 Catalog, Third Place and two paintings in exhibit
OutdoorPainter.com, November 2013, 24 Paintings in 24 Hours
Plein Air Magazine, November 2013, “Plein Air Rockies”, pg. 98
Southwest Art Magazine, June 2013, FULL-PAGE Advertisement
OutdoorPainter.com, October 2012, 3rd Annual Maple Leaf Festival in Missouri
OutdoorPainter.com, September 2012, Plein Air Rockies in CO Featured
Plein Air Magazine Facebook, August 2012, John Lasater Holding Blue Ribbon
Plein Air Magazine Digital Version, June/July 2012, “Awards in New Harmony, IN”
Art Of The West Magazine, January/February 2012, “Plein Air Awards”, pg. 80
Plein Air Magazine, Summer 2011, “Painting Springtime Gardens”, pg. 94
PRESENTATIONS
2025 Lecture and Demonstration, Alpha Rho Tau Civic Art Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2024 Lecture, Business of Art Class, John Brown University
2020 Demonstrator, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Indiana
2019 Demonstrator, Oil Painters of America National Convention
2018 Demonstrator, Oil Painters of America National Convention
2018 Lecture and Demonstration, Alpha Rho Tau Civic Art Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma
2017 Demonstrator and Panel Discussion, Oil Painters of America National Convention
2017 and 2016 Speaker and Demonstrator, Plein Air South, Apalachacola, Florida
2017 Speaker and Demonstrator, Shadows on the Teche Plein Air, Louisiana
2016 Speaker and Demonstrator, Ohio Plein Air Society, Columbus, Ohio
2014 Demonstrator, Plein Air Convention, Monterey, California
JUDGESHIPS
2025 Heartland Art Club RepreSENSATIONAL Show, Entry Juror
2024 Boldbrush (November) Online Contest
2024 Art of the Heartland National Exhibition, Arkansas
2023 Farm to Forest Plein Air, Louisiana
2023 Augusta Plein Air, Missouri
2022 Parkville Plein Air, Missouri
2022 Knoxville Plein Air, Tennessee, Entry Juror
2021 Missouri Valley Impressionist Society, Online Membership Show
2020 Kekionga Plein Air, Indiana
2019 ArtMuse Contest, Month of August
2018 Fairfield Plein Air, Illinois
2017 Plein Air Redfern, Oklahoma
2017 Shadows on the Teche Plein Air, Louisiana
2016 ArtMuse Contest, Month of May
2015 Steelville Plein Air Festival, Missouri
2014 Thomas Hart Benton Show, Missouri
2009 John Brown University Student Art Competition
2008 John Brown University Student Art Competition
2006 First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event, Indiana
RESIDENCIES
2018 Oh Be Joyful Gallery, Crested Butte, Colorado
2018 Forgotten Coast of Florida, Apalachicola, Florida
2013-2014 Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Cave Springs, AR
2011 Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri
WORKSHOP TEACHING
Ongoing - Views Studio Classes, Oklahoma & Arkansas
Ongoing - Online Mentoring with Mastrius
2025 Large Landscape Workshop, Booth Western Museum, Georgia
2025 Plein Air Workshop, Arkansas
2025 Portrait Workshop, Arkansas
2025 Views Community Still Life Retreat, Arkansas
2024 Portrait Workshop, Views Studio, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
2024 Plein Air Workshop, Mena Art Gallery, Arkansas
2024 Plein Air Workshop, Historic Cane Hill, Arkansas
2024 Portrait Workshop, Views Studio, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
2023 Large Landscape Workshop, Waterworks Art Center, Oklahoma
2023 Plein Air Workshop, Augusta Plein Air, Missouri
2023 Views Community Still Life Retreat, Arkansas
2022 Plein Air Workshop, Carol Roark Studio, Mississippi
2022 Plein Air Workshop, Cathy Kline Gallery, Missouri
2022 Studio Landscape Workshop, Carol Roark Studio, Mississippi
2022 Studio Landscape Workshop, River Valley Arts Center, Arkansas
2022 Views Community Plein Air Retreat, Palo Duro Canyon
2022 Views Community Still Life Retreat, Arkansas
2021 Multiple Landscape Workshops, Center for Arts and Education, Arkansas
2021 Multiple Still Life Workshops, Center for Arts and Education, Arkansas
2021 Views Community Plein Air Retreat, Palo Duro Canyon
2020 Views Community Online Mentorship and Critiques
2019 Plein Air Workshop, Three Hearts Farm Art School, Georgia
2018 Plein Air Workshop, Tallapoosa School of Art, Alabama
2018 Plein Air Workshop, Hoosier Salon, New Harmony, Indiana
2018 Plein Air Workshop, Award Winning Artist Workshops, North Carolina
2018 Plein Air Workshop with Jason Sacran, Booneville, Arkansas
2018 Studio Landscape Workshop with Jason Sacran, Little Rock, Arkansas
2017 Two-Week Affiliate Workshop, JSS in Civita Summer Program, Italy
2017 Plein Air Workshop, Hoosier Salon, Carmel, Indiana
2017 Plein Air Workshop, Anita Elder Art Loft, Dahlonega, Georgia
2017 Plein Air Workshop with Jason Sacran, Maui, Hawaii
2017 Studio Landscape Workshop with Jason Sacran, El Dorado, Arkansas
2016 Plein Air Workshop, Dot Courson Workshops, Mississippi
2016 Still Life Workshop, Little Rock, Arkansas
2016 Plein Air Workshop with Jason Sacran, Newnan, Georgia
2016 Plein Air Workshop with Jason Sacran, Maintstreet Art Center, Illinois
2016 Plein Air Workshop, Nancy Paris Pruden Workshops, Houston, Texas
2016 Plein Air Workshop, Ohio Plein Air Society, Columbus, Ohio
2015 Plein Air Workshop with Jason Sacran, Newnan, Georgia
2015 Still Life Workshop, St. Louis, Missouri
2014 Still Life Retreat & Workshop, Siloam Springs, Arkansas
2014 Plein Air Workshop (Fall), Cave Springs, Arkansas
2014 Plein Air Workshop (Fall), Fort Smith, Arkansas
2014 Plein Air Workshop (Fall), St. Louis, Missouri
2014 Plein Air Classes, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas
2014 Still Life Workshop, John Brown University, Arkansas
2014 Plein Air Workshop (Spring), Cave Springs, Arkansas
2013 Plein Air Workshop (Fall), Cave Springs, Arkansas
2013 “Painting the Impressionistic Model” Workshop, Cherry’s Gallery, Missouri
2013 Plein Air Workshop (Summer), Cave Springs, Arkansas
2012 Still Life Workshop, Berryville, Arkansas
2012 Plein Air Workshop, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri
2012 Plein Air Workshop, Joplin, Missouri
2011 Still Life Workshop, Joplin, Missouri
2011 Still Life Workshop, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri
2011 Plein Air Workshop, Big Cedar Lodge, Branson, Missouri
2011 Still Life Workshop, Springfield, Missouri