Recognitions
Setting Standards
As an artist, I have created original drawings and paintings for almost 40 years. Winning awards means my art has met high standards of quality. 2023 was a special year for winning 3 awards: The Publisher's Award, Laguna Plein Air Aitists Award and Best of Show at the American Plains Artists Show.
National and International Art Exhibitions
In National and International Art Exhibitions, I have won over 40 Gold and Silver medals, First Prizes, and Best of Show Awards. I take pride in my two Gold Medals from the Western American Indian and Cowboy Artists Show, conducted at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, CA
Most Recent Awards
2025
California Art Club Artist Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition Award. Awards Juror, Clark Silva, Independent Curator at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles said, " The watercolor, Fall in Vermont, 20 x 30, was awarded for its warm nostalgic portrayal of a classic autumnal scent , capture with exceptional control of watercolor's fluid nature"
2024
Cliff begins showing regularly with the Laguna Plein Air Artists and received an Award for a unique watercolor painting of a boat scene.
2023
Three American Plains Artists Awards: The Publisher's Award with the Western Art Collector Magazine publication in their Jan 2024 Magazine, and Second Place Award with the Laguan Plein Air Artists, and Best of Show with the American Plains Artists.
2022
Cliff again received the American Plains Artists Publisher's Award with the Art of the West Magazine
2021
Cliff showed with the Huse Skelly Art Gallery, and won the Second Place Award presented in Balboa, CA by the Huse Skelly Art Gallery owner of the Huse Skelly Art Gallery for hiswatercolor painting, Dry Dock, at the Just Summertime Exhibition at the Gallery on Balboa Island, CA
2020
American Plains Artists Golden Spur Award for my oil painting, Going to See my Gal by the American Plains Artists at their Signature Exhibition at the Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.
2019
Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art (for the 4th consecutive year) and the American Plains Artists Publisher’s Award of Excellence for a full-page “Artist Focus” in Western Art Collector Magazine for their 2020 January edition.
2018
Honored as “Master Watercolorist” by Watercolor West International and also received the Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art (for the third consecutive year).
2017
Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art. Received First Prize in Watercolor from the Cowboy Classic Art Show in Phoenix, AZ. The Clyde Heron Award for best depiction of history in Art from the American Plains Artists in NM, and Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (Marquis Who’s Who and Who’s Who in Art).
2016
Awarded the Best of Show Plein Air and Gold Medal in Watercolor at the San Dimas Festival of Art.
2015
The Gold Medal in Landscape at the Wildlife and Landscape Show in San Dimas, CA.
2014
Silver Medal at the National Western Art Exhibit in San Dimas, CA.
2013
The “Lush Expressionism” Award at the Fallbrook Center of Art in Fallbrook, CA, at their Signature Watercolor Exhibit.
2012
The Best Plains People Award and Best of Show Award from the American Plains Artists Exhibit in Midland, Texas. Also received the Animal Award from the Oil Painters of America Show in Evergreen, Colorado, and the Silver Medal for Wildlife at the Wildlife Show in San Dimas, CA.
Publications
Cliff's artwork has been published in the Plein Air Magazine 2026 July issue page 90 showing the Oil Painting, "Our 15th National Park", an original of the Grand Canyon with snow scene which was chosen for the California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition in 2026 at the Hilbert Museum in Orange, CA.
In addition, the Western Art and Architecture Magazine in their June July Issue 2026 published the Oil Painting, entitled "Looks Like He is Top Dog" which is shown on page 79 for the American Plains Artists in Texas for June- August 2026 Exhibition.
Three other well known art magazines over the years have published Cliff's Art: Western Art Collector, Art of the West, and Southwest Art Magazines.
Cliff 's art was also published in books including:
Contemporary Western Artists book, Preserving the Western Spirit, Who’s Who in American Art, and Who’s Who in America.
Cliff was the “Featured Artist” at the May 2016 Wild West Festival at the historic Gilman Ranch and Wagon Museum in Banning, CA. You can search the above listing under “Barnes Events” and “Calendar” to find where his art today is being shown.
In May 1995 a full article was published showing many original paintings in the Art of the West Magazine