John Pototschnik stands next to his award-winning painting.

Each year the Outdoor Painters Society holds the Plein Air Southwest Salon, a national juried competition, and the contest attracts excellent artists from across the country to Texas. In this, its seventh year, juror George Strickland chose John Pototschnik’s piece “Left Behind” for Best of Show.

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Collectors, artists, and art lovers enjoy the opening of the Plein Air Southwest Salon’s exhibition, hosted by Southwest Gallery, in Dallas.

“‘Left Behind’ actually began as a larger painting but was cut down to improve the composition,” Pototschnik posted on his blog. “Painted in one six-hour session, on-site, few refinements were needed back in the studio. Originally titled ‘Beside a Fallen Giant,’ the new title popped into my mind while laying in bed two nights before the show … better expressing the story I felt while creating the piece.”

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Best of Show winner “Left Behind,” by John Pototschnik, oil, 9 3/4 x 15 in.

Participants were juried into the salon, and each artist was allowed up to four pieces for display and sale, plus a quick-draw painting. The salon’s exhibition is hosted by Southwest Gallery, in Dallas, and remains on view until May 4. Although the Outdoor Painters Society is primarily composed of Texas painters, the organization draws members from as far away as California. This year’s salon was immediately preceded by a workshop with George Strickland, the show’s juror.


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