Selected as one of the fifty best landscape artists in the United States by Artist's Magazine in 1992, Julia McKee travels the American West in search of meaningful subjects for her plein-air paintings. It is the land's endless beauty that inspires her vivid palette. "When painting a landscape outdoors my goal is to capture the essence of the scene. Each location has a special language, an aura all its own. It is my hope to translate this language so the viewer will experience that special aura when viewing my paintings." Studying the paintings by the great impressionists masters and artists such as John Singer Sargent and Joaquin Sorolla has influenced Julia. Nationally known artists have helped her become grounded in the use of the elements and principles of good design. For the last 15 years I have enjoyed teaching others that which is such a delight to me. Julia is a founding member of Alla Prima International and a signature member of Oil Painters of America. The artists of Alla Prima International travel the world painting in plein-air or painting and teaching the joys of painting in the plein-air manner. Oil Painters of America was organized in 1991 and is devoted to the advancement of outstanding representational oil painting. The members of OPA are accomplished fine artists working in the time honored traditional methods of painting. SELECTED NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL SHOWS: 2001, Awarded Signature membership, Oil Painters of America 2001, '00, '97, '95, '92 Oil Painters of America National 2001, Creations in Oil & Clay, Taos Mosaic Gallery, Taos, NM 2001, Charitable Arts "Plein Air Tucson" 2001, API Founders Show, Bennington, VT Center for the Arts 2001, API Show, Riverbend Fine Arts, Marble Falls, TX 2000, Best and Brightest, Scottsdale, AZ 2000, Api Exhibit, Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa, TX 2000, Southern Living Magazine's Idea House 1999, '98 Alla Prima Exhibit, Wisconsin and Virginia 1999, BEACH Art Show, Ruidoso, NM 1999, Solo Show, Taos Mosaic Gallery, Taos, NM 1998, Festa Del' Europa A Stroncone, Italy: Merit Award 1998, A Taste of Taos, Sedona Arts Center, Sedona, AZ 1998, '97 Best of Taos, Taos Art Association, Taos, NM 1993, Houston Civic Arts, Houston, TX: First Place 1992, Artists Magazine National: 50 Landscape 1992, American Artists Professional League, NY, NY 1992, Realism, Parkersburg Art Center, Parkersburg Art Center, Parkersburg, WV 1991, Pasadena (TX) Art League National: First Place 1988, '87 Artists Liaison Art Competition, Los Angeles, CA COLLECTORS: Southwest New Mexico University, Houston Lighting & Power, Aristech Chemicals, Transfuels Corp., Humana Hospital, Bank of Ruidoso and others. Many private collections SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: 2001, Taos Magazine article, '98 cover and article 2001, Ad, Art of the West 2002, '01 Ads, American Art Review 1998, '93, '92 Ads, Southwest Art Magazine 1997, Taos Magazine, Artist's Profile 1990, '88 Artists of Texas 1989, Ad, Art and Auction Magazine 1988, Ad, Guest Information, Los Angeles, CA PUBLISHER: Haddad Fine Arts, Inc., Anaheim, CA (Three images in print, distributed internationally.)