Artist Larry Moore has revealed his selections for the June 2025 PleinAir Salon art competition. Larry, who embraces all forms of creative expression, said judging an art show is somewhat of a juggling act, and it’s never easy. To make his judging a fair process, he set up a few rules for himself:
1. Honor the range of styles, not just one application
2. Award both concept and ability
3. Award the pieces that transcend the content and operate as a whole
“There were quite a few pieces in this show that could’ve been in the top three,” Larry said. “Changing any one of the top three would have affected some of the category picks, but each satisfies my three rules.”
PleinAir Salon Art Competition Winners Preview:
1st Place Overall: “Dreamscape”
“This flower painting was an almost immediate choice for best of show,” Larry said. “It’s a great example of making the ordinary extraordinary. The way the flowers float in the dark space is compelling. The space itself has variety in the negative shapes; no two distances are the same. There is a beautiful range of variety in mark-making and edges, and the flowers themselves move forward and backward in space.”
2nd Place Overall: “You’ll Be Alright”
“This figurative piece shows more than just ability. There’s an idea in it, a narrative. The veil means something, symbolizes something important, and it’s up to the viewer to figure out what that means to them. It’s thoughtful, delicate, and masterfully done.”
3rd Place Overall: “Hollyhock Garden”
“This plein air landscape is a masterclass in one of the most important tenets I’ve found in creative expression: variation. The house isn’t the star, it’s a supporting cast member for the flower garden. Every leaf and flower has its own identity. No shape or color repeats exactly; that’s variation in a nutshell.”
Plein Air Category Winners
On Entering Your Work:
“It’s always good to submit work for a show but don’t take it personally if you don’t win,” Larry advises. “It’s way more complicated than ‘good or not good’; judging is a chess match. There are many pieces that could’ve received awards, but the category structure (which is fine) changes the way choices are made. Choose your category carefully.
“Every piece of the painting matters. If a chunk of the piece you want to submit is great, but there’s something not quite right about some other part of the painting, we (the judges) will go right to the part that doesn’t work.
“Keep painting. Paint what really interests you – uniqueness (authenticity) stands out.”
Enter the PleinAir Salon Art Competition Today
All winners in the PleinAir® Salon will be entered into the judging for the annual cash prizes, including the Grand Prize of $15,000 and their painting on the cover of PleinAir® Magazine. Could you be the next winner?
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. See the rest of this month’s winners and enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
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