SAN DIEGO-based plein air painter, Paul Strahm, brings out the FINE in America’s FINEST City in his vivid, internationally collected paintings. Each image is thoughtfully painted to capture the landscape, lifestyle of the area, and its people. Viewing this fine artist’s work will pull you into the scene —again and again — offering you memories that last a lifetime.

Strahm’s passion for painting began when he was young, as did his love for the outdoors. His rural Ohio upbringing allowed him to intimately explore nature on his family’s country farm. After high school, Paul attended Youngstown State University where he studied art and became fascinated with the French Impressionist painter, Paul Cezanne. Cezanne’s study of nature — through his paintings — influenced Strahm and he began to emulate Cezanne’s natural hues and his love of “plein air” painting. Not long after receiving his fine arts degree in painting, Paul moved west to San Diego, a climate very similar to Cezanne’s favorite haunts in the south of France.

Strahm enjoys his career here in San Diego, and nearly half his life later he continues to bring joy to everyone who is lucky enough to have one of his paintings. Paul’s plein air paintings, without a doubt, reveal the unmistakable appeal and magnetism of America’s Finest City, San Diego.

Honors

Permanent Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
2014 | Painting titled Cabrillo Bridge was acquired by the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, to be part of their Permanent Collection

Featured Artist / Solo Show at the San Diego Art Institute
February/March 2008

Featured Artist at the 2013 Coronado Art Walk in Coronado, CA
September 2013

California Art Club’s San Diego Chapter Chairman
2008–2010

Featured Artist for Pacifc Beach’s BeachFest Fall Festivals
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Juror
• Idyllwild Plein Air Festival (multiple years)
• San Dieguito Art Guild (multiple years)
• North Park Plein Air Competition
• Escondido Art Association (2024, 2025)

Awards

Runner Up
2011 | Enniscorthy was awarded Runner Up (Oil) at Europe’s largest plein air competition
Art in the Open, Wexford, Ireland

Best of Show
2010 | Surf was awarded Best of Show
Huntington Beach Plein Air Competition, Huntington Beach, CA

Best of Oil or Acrylic
2010 | Fisherman’s Wharf was awarded Best of Oil or Acrylic
Carmel Art Festival, Carmel, CA

Best of Show
2011 | North Park was awarded Best of Show
North Park Plein Air Painting Competition, San Diego, CA

Juror’s Award
2011 | Hacienda del Sol was given the Juror’s Award
Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, Borrego Springs, CA

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Award
2014 | Bow Bridge was awarded at the 36th Annual Painting & Sculpture Juried Exhibition
Salmagundi Art Club, New York City, NY

1st Place & Honorable Mention
2010 | Living Above On Granada St. & Flower Stand were awarded 1st Place & Honorable Mention, respectively
North Park Plein Air Competition, San Diego, CA

1st Place
2010 | Portico at the Mission was awarded 1st Place
San Clemente Art Association Summer Judged Show, San Clemente, CA

1st Place
2009 | Front Street was awarded 1st Place
Ralph Love Plein Air, Temecula, CA

1st Place
2008 | Cafe Aroma was awarded 1st Place
Idyllwild Plein Air Art Festival, Idyllwild, CA

1st Place
2009 | Strawberry Sandy was awarded 1st Place
Idyllwild Plein Air Art Festival, Idyllwild, CA

Juror’s Choice Award
2005 | Lawn Bowling in Balboa Park was awarded Juror’s Choice
San Diego Art Institute Regional Show, San Diego, CA

Award of Merit
2010 | Martin’s was given an Award of Merit
Just Plein Fun, Balboa Island, CA

2nd Place
2009 | Winter Morning at La Jolla Cove was awarded 2nd Place
San Clemente Art Association Winter Judged Show, San Clemente, CA

2nd Place
2008 | The Painted Garden was awarded 2nd Place
Ralph Love Plein Air Competition, Temecula, CA

3rd Place, Mini Painting
2007 | Station at the Pool was awarded 3rd Place
San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, CA

Honorable Mention
2012 | Morning Commute received an Honorable Mention
Ohio Plein Air Society’s Plein Air Competition, Athens, OH

Honorable Mention, Quick Draw
2008 | Selma’s was awarded Honorable Mention in the Quick Draw
San Clemente Plein Air Painting Competition, San Clemente, CA

Honorable Mention, Masters Level
2010 | Morning on the Lawn at Bernardo Winery was awarded Honorable Mention, Masters Level
San Clemente Art Association Spring Judged Show, San Clemente, CA

Honorable Mention
2010 | Fishing on the San Clemente Pier received Honorable Mention
San Clemente Plein Air Competition, San Clemente, CA

Honorable Mention
2009 | San Clemente Pier received Honorable Mention
San Clemente Art Association Paint San Clemente Member Show, San Clemente, CA

Honorable Mention, Landscape – Oil
2007 | Del Dios was awarded Honorable Mention, Landscape-Oil
San Diego County Fair, Del Mar, CA

Merit Award
2005 | Lily Rock was given a Merit Award
Idyllwild Plein Air Art Festival, Idyllwild, CA

Artist’s Choice Award
2006 | Inspiration Point was given the Artist’s Choice Award
Idyllwild Plein Air Art Festival, Idyllwild, CA

People’s Choice Award
2005 | Lily Rock was honored with People’s Choice Award
Idyllwild Plein Air Art Festival, Idyllwild, CA

Carson C. Cooke Award
2005 | Lawn Bowling in Balboa Park was awarded the Carson C. Cooke Award
YSU Alumni Exhibition, Youngstown, Ohio

Exhibitions

(Partial Listing)

California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition
2008, 2017, 2022, 2023 | Participating Artist
Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, CA (2008) • Autry Museum of the American West, Pasadena, CA (2017) • Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA (2022, 2023)

Oil Painters of America Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2008, 2022 | Participating Artist
Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT • Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO

Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition
2021 | Participating Artist
Quinlan Visual Art Center, Gainesville, GA

Salmagundi Art Club 36th Juried Painting & Sculpture Exhibition
2014 | Participating Artist & Award Recipient
Salmagundi Art Club, New York City, NY

St. George Plein Air Festival
2024 | Participating Artist
St. George, UT

Carmel Art Plein Air Festival
2009 | Participating Artist
Carmel, CA

Featured Artist / Solo Show at the San Diego Art Institute
2008 | Solo Artist
San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

Nature Improved Exhibition: San Diego Artists Interpret Our Landscape
2013–2014 | Participating Artist in Dual Juried Invitational
San Diego History Center and the Oceanside Museum of Art, CA

Southern California Regional Juried Award Exhibition
2008, 2010 | Participating Artist
San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

San Luis Obispo Plein Air Festival
2008, 2009 | Participating Artist
San Luis Obispo, CA

Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
2009, 2010, 2018 | Participating Artist
Borrego Springs, CA

Youngstown State University Juried Alumni Show
2009, 2019, 2023 | Participating Artist
Youngstown, OH

Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Presents The 4th Annual Best of Plein Air Exhibition
2008 | Participating Artist
Laguna Beach, CA

Memberships

California Art Club
Oil Painters of America

Media

Television Documentary
2001 | Channel 4 San Diego Insider Show

Feature Cover Artist
2000 | La Jolla and Pacific Beach Visitor’s Guides
San Diego, California

Collections

Permanent Collection at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
2014 | Painting titled Cabrillo Bridge was acquired by the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, to be part of their Permanent Collection

Redlands Hospital
Painting titled Moored on the Harbor is in the Redlands Hospital collection.

Private Collectors and Other Public Entities
Since 1997

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