Husbands & Wives Win Salon Prizes

There are a few coincidences among the bimonthly PleinAir Magazine Salon competition winners, including the fact that one husband-and-wife team worked on the plein air painting that won second place, and two artists who are married to one another won separate awards.

 

“Udo as King Henry,” by Evgeny and Lydia Baranov, oil, 48 x 36 in. The Second Place award winner.

Winners of the September/October bimonthly PleinAir Magazine Salon competition (www.pleinairsalon.com) were just announced, and four artists will receive valuable art supplies and gift certificates. Their three paintings, and nine others by semi-finalists, will be considered for the $20,000 in cash awards to be presented during the Plein Air Convention & Expo, in Monterey, California, from April 10-14, 2013 (www.pleinairconvention.com).

Jim McVicker from Loleta, California, was the top award winner in this bimonthly PleinAir Salon competition for his 40″ x 30″ oil painting titled “Orchids and Plums.” His painting was selected for the First Place award by Michael Zakian, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Zakian said of the painting, “This still life impressed me with the sheer beauty of its composition. I also admire the paint handling, which is detailed and precise but not fussy or overworked. It retains a feeling of atmosphere which makes these objects seem alive.”

 
“Terry Painting Brian,” by Jim McVicker, 2006, oil, 9 x 12 in. Courtesy George Stern Fine Arts, West Hollywood, CA

Coincidentally, Jim’s wife, Theresa Oats, was selected as a semi-finalist for her painting “Westerland Roses.” Additionally, Jim’s painting of Theresa at work on a plein air portrait of their mutual friend Brian Muessig will be featured on the last page of the January 2013 issue of PleinAir magazine, in the “Painters Painted” feature. For more information on McVicker, visit his website: http://www.jimmcvickerpaints.com/.

Another pair of married artists were also included among the award winners: The Second Place award chosen by Zakian was for a 48″ x 36″ oil painting titled “Udo as King Henry,” by Evgeny and Lydia Baranov of Pebble Beach, California (www.baranovs.com). The Baranovs take turns painting on the same canvases when working outdoors.

 
“Miss Amy Thayer,” by Garin Baker, oil, 14 x 17 in. The Third Prize award winner.

Third Prize went to Windsor, New York artist Garin Baker (www.carriageart.com) for his 14″ x 17″ painting “Miss Amy Thayer.” Nine other paintings were selected as semi-finalists in the competition, and they too will be eligible for the final awards in the Salon competition. They are: “Street in Dubrovnik,” by Marc Dalessio; “Aunt Ruth’s Picture,” by Dirk Walker; “Precession of Simulacra,” by Alan Lawson; “Hungry Valley,” by Victor Schiro; “Westerland Roses,” by Theresa Oats; “Curve of the Earth,” by Robin Purcell; “After a Storm,” by Patrick Connors; “Barn Shadows,” by Jerolyn Dirks; and “Peaceful River,” by Ming Feng.