Temple artist Susan Sterle wins top Western honors in magazine’s art contest

DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE

Temple artist Susan Sterle was quite pleased earlier this week after being notified that she had won honorable mention in an art contest for her painting of a horse.

But Friday night she learned that the email announcing the accomplishment was sent in error. No honorable mention for Susan — instead she was named winner of the Western category of the PleinAir Magazine’s competition for November 2022.

Susan’s painting — Let’s Go for a Spin — was selected as the best of more than 950 paintings entered.

“I was told I had honorable mention about a week ago,” Susan said Friday night. “Earlier this evening, I got the same honorable mention email again, but about 30 minutes later I was informed that I had won. I am very pleased and honored. It is very exciting to be recognized.”

“It’s been a big year,” she said. “I’m trying new things and trying to go big. Awards are an acknowledgment that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Susan said she photographed the horse in Let’s Go for a Spin at a local reining competition and later decided to paint the animal.

The painting will be included in the judging for the magazine’s annual competition at the Plein Air Convention & Expo in May.

Susan is the owner of Sterle Fine Art Studio, 8 N 9th Street in Temple.