Plein Air Collector

“Dawn’s Grace” Takes First Place in PleinAir Salon Art Competition

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Diane Waterhouse of Waterhouse Gallery has revealed her selections for the winners in the December 2024 PleinAir Salon art competition. Scroll down to see the winning paintings and read Diane’s comments on her top picks.

PleinAir Salon Art Competition Winners Preview:

1st Place Overall: “Dawn’s Grace”

PleinAir Salon - First Place Overall: “Dawn’s Grace” (oil, 16 x 20 in.) by Chris Bell — First Place Overall: “Dawn’s Grace” (oil, 16 x 20 in.) by Chris Bell

“I liked the composition,” Diane said, “the light, shadow, and warmth the painting radiates with the late afternoon sun, and I liked all the details in the foreground.”

2nd Place Overall: “Harmony in Brown”

PleinAir Salon - Second Place Overall: “Harmony in Brown” (oil, 26 x 28 in.) by Jonathan Gladding — Second Place Overall: “Harmony in Brown” (oil, 26 x 28 in.) by Jonathan Gladding

“The subject was very complex with the configuration of seven figures on one canvas. Each was beautifully painted. I loved the light, the silhouette, the intimacy, the subtle brushwork. I felt like I was standing in that room, observing all the children who were listening intently to someone or something. The painting is compelling.”

3rd Place Overall: “Nest”

PleinAir Salon - Third Place Overall: “Nest” (oil, 28 x 28 in.) by Xiaowei Liu (China) — Third Place Overall: “Nest” (oil, 28 x 28 in.) by Xiaowei Liu (China)

“This charming still life shows great skill in representational painting. It is well drawn, well-defined, highly-detailed, and gracefully executed in its lovely presentation.”

Plein Air Category Winners:

Best Plein Air Landscape: “Beach Day at Lovers Pt” (oil, 11 x 14 in.) by Brian Blood

Best Plein Air Acrylic & Gouache: “More Mesa Beach” (acrylic, 9 x 12 in.) by Rick J. Delanty

Best Plein Air Oil: “Crumbling Coast” (oil, 12 x 16 in.) by Mike Bagdonas

Best Plein Air Pastel: “Desert Splendor” (pastel, 12 x 16 in.) by Linda Mutti

Best Plein Air Watercolor: “An Evening in the Countryside” (watercolor, 11 x 17 in.) by Maria Lozinsky (Russia)

Call for Entries: The Salon Art Prize (formerly PleinAir Salon) offers $65,000 in cash prizes annually, and Grand Prize winners get their art on the cover of PleinAir or Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine. There are 19 categories to enter your artwork. Learn more at TheSalonArtPrize.com.

Announcement prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today