ARTIST STATMENT:
Fred Jackson has been sketching landscapes outdoors since childhood with his artist father. His passion led him to a 30-year career in landscape architecture, and he now paints full time. He started oil painting a decade ago, driven by his appreciation for nature and creativity. Fred regularly participates in major national Plein Air events and is represented by several galleries, including The Square Pear Gallery (Kennett Square, PA), Bryan Gallery (Jeffersonville and Stowe, VT), The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts (Waitsfield, VT), Church Street Gallery (West Chester, PA), and Warm Springs Gallery (VA).
Painting outdoors is a blast for me—I get fired up by everything from wild nature spots to bustling city scenes. I love working fast and loose, splashing on bold colors and chasing strong shapes that capture the vibe of each place, even if things get a little abstract. Though I study my composition, I mostly just go with my gut, painting in the moment and letting every brushstroke show the excitement I feel. That fresh energy is what plein air painting is all about for me, and it’s why I’m so hooked!
Education:Bachelors Of Landscape Architecture B.L.A., SUNY College Of ESF, Campus Of Syracuse University, NY
Gallery Representation:
Warm Springs Gallery, Warm Springs, Va.
Square Pear Gallery, Kennett Square, PA.
Church Street Gallery, West Chester, Pa.
Bryan Gallery, Jeffersonville and Stowe, VT
The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield , VT
Juried Plein Air Events:
2025: Cape Ann Plein Air; Ma.
Award: Quintessential Rockport
2025: Suffolk Plein Air; Suffolk, Va.
Award: Best Farm Land
2025: Adirondack Plein Air; Saranac Lake, NY
2025: Ocean City Plein Air. Ocean City, Maryland
Award: 1st Place Best In Show
Award: Artist Choice
Award: 20th Show Anniversary
2025: Parrsboro International Plein Air, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Award: 1st Place-Best In Show
2025: Gloucester Invitational Plein air, Gloucester, VA
2025: Wayne Plein Air, Wayne , Pennsylvania
Award: Best Street Scene
2025: Teche Plein Air, New Iberia, Louisiana
Awards: Third Place Best In Show; Best Body Of Work; First Place Quick Draw
2024: Suffolk Plein air Festival
2024: Adirondack Plein Air Festival, NY
Award: Third Place Best In Show
2024: Vermont Plein Air, VT
2024: West Reading Plein Air, PA
Award: First Place Best In Show
2024: Gloucester Invitational Plein Air, VA.
Award: Third Place Best In Show
Award: Third Place Best Quick Draw Painting
2024: Wayne Plein Air, PA.
Award: Best OF Landscape
2024: Olmsted Invitational Plein Air
Award- Artist Choice
2023: Hudson Valley Plein Air, NY
Featured Artist and Painting Demonstration For Public
2023: Ocean City Plein Air, Maryland
Award For: 2nd Place- Best In Show
2023 Door County Plein Air, Wisconsin / Invitational Artist
2023 West Reading Plein Air, Pennsylvania / Juried Artist
Award for : “Best In Show”, “Artist Choice”, ”Peoples Choice”
2023 Gloucester Plein Air, Virgina / Invitational Artist
Award For: “ Best New Artist”
2023 Wayne Plein Air, Pennsylvania / Juried Artist
Award of Merit “Knox Covered Bridge”
2023 River Towns Plein Air / Juried Artist
Award for Best Special Category “Columbia Crossing”
2022 Hudson Valley Plein Air / Juried Artist
Award for : Second Place Best In Show
Award for: Second Place Best Quick Draw
2022 Bath County Plein Air / Juried Artist
Award for: Best In Show Peer Review
Award for: Gordon F. Ferguson Memorial Award
2022 Adirondack Plein Air / Juried Artist
2022 Easton Plein Air / Maryland / Juried Artist
Award Of Merit Quick Draw
2022 National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum: Lukens Steel Painting on exhibit
2022 West Reading Plein Air / Pa. / Juried Artist:
First Place Best In Show Painting
First Place Best Quick Draw
First Place Artist Choice, Body of Work
2022 Annapolis Plein Air / Maryland / Juried Artist:
First Place Quick Draw Painting
2022 Wayne Plein Air / Pa./ Juried Artist:
Award of Merit
2021 Hudson Valley Plein Air / New York / Juried Artist:
First Place-Best State Park Painting
2021 Tupper Lake Plein Air / N.Y. / Juried Artist
2020 Annapolis Plein Air / Mayor’s Award Community Artist: (First Place Best in Show)
2019 Wayne Community Plein Air Show / Wayne PA (Third Place in Community Show)
Gallery Shows:
2026 Church Street Gallery, West Chester, PA. (Solo Show)
2025 Faculty Show, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pa
2024 Faculty Show, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, Pa.
2024 Wild Pink Show, The Gallery at Mad River Valley Arts, Waitsfield VT
2023 Heart Of The River Show, Gloucester, VA
2022 Solo Show, Gallery 222, Malvern PA