08/09/2026
Thanks to our 2026 Judges!
We’re thrilled to introduce the three people who served as judges for this year’s Paint The Point! We deeply appreciate the time they took out of their busy schedules to give Back to the plein air community. Their enthusiasm and professionalism was truly inspiring.
Maggie Sather is Associate Curator at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, where she also coordinates the museum’s studio arts workshops and annual plein air festival. She holds a BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and an MA in Art History from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Christopher Reno
studied painting, drawing and printmaking at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, The New York Studio School, Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop, Flatbed Press in Austin, Texas and the MFA program of The University of Iowa. He is currently the Director of the Catich Gallery, and Associate Professor of Art, at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. This is his second time judging Paint The Point.
David R Becker
is an award-winning watercolorist, illustrator, author, and instructor, whose vibrant landscapes and expressive urban scenes have made him a respected name in contemporary watercolor painting. With a career spanning more than four decades, he has built a reputation for bold brushwork, confident use of color, and ability to capture atmosphere with remarkable clarity and emotion.
He began his artistic journey at a young age, later formalizing his training at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His career took shape across multiple creative disciplines; graphic design, illustration, and fine art, giving him a uniquely versatile approach to watercolor. Last year David received prizes in all event categories at Paint The Point.
