SCAA Celebrates: Plein Air Coordinator Meressa Naftulin Wins Prestigious Founder’s Award at MOPO!

We are thrilled to announce that our exceptional Plein Air Coordinator, Meressa Naftulin, has been honored with The Founder's Award at this year's prestigious Mendocino Outdoor Paint Out (MOPO).

About the Mendocino Paint Out

MOPO is an intense, week-long creative endurance event that brings together 40 elite landscape artists from across the region. The format is a breathtaking whirlwind: every single day after painting on location, artists immediately return to the exhibition gallery to hang their fresh pieces. By Friday afternoon, the gallery walls are teeming with a massive, vibrant display of over 200 original paintings, paving the way for final judging and high-profile honors.
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The week concluded with the formal presentation of major accolades, including Best of Show, The Judges Awards, Honorable Mentions, and the highly coveted Founder's Award presented to Meressa.

In Meressa’s Words:
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"I am truly grateful and honored to receive the recognition of The Founder's Award this year," Meressa shares. "The event fosters such an incredible environment of community. Gathering over afternoon refreshments and catered dinners gave us a wonderful space to dive deep, discuss our creative processes, and celebrate each other's work at the close of every exhausting painting day."

​Please join the SCAA Board and membership family in sending a massive congratulations to Meressa on this remarkable achievement! We are incredibly fortunate to have an award-winning master of the craft steering our monthly plein air outings.

🎨 Inspired to paint outdoors with an award-winner? Check out our Plein Air Meet-Ups to join Meressa at our next monthly gathering in historic Fillmore!