Ned Mueller has revealed his selections for the winners in the October 2024 PleinAir Salon art competition. Scroll down to see the winning paintings and read Ned’s comments on his top picks.
PleinAir Salon Art Competition Winners Preview:
1st Place Overall: “Cathedral Wash”
“Wow, this fine work of art covered everything that I think goes into making a great painting: concept, design, color and, in this case, atmosphere, as it is a landscape painting,” Ned said. “The idea of the arroyo leading our eye back into the middleground and background; the great drawing skills and arrangement and shapes of the rocks, dirt and bushes – their chroma and temperature so beautifully orchestrated and giving us the beauty of that violet mountain and little group of clouds. What is there not to like about this masterpiece!”
2nd Place Overall: “Grace in Motion”
“One can see and feel the movement and beauty of the dancers, so fresh and spontaneous, well drawn and designed – no sloppiness in its execution. The dark outfit on the instructor really makes the painting and sets her apart from all that lovely action going on behind her. A little definition in the right place says a lot.”
3rd Place Overall: “Shimmering”
“We can feel that bright, gurgling water with all of its sparkle and busyness, that beautiful contrast and activity of all the bright greens and oranges against the quiet blue water in the lower right. All of that well designed action, in contrast with the bright rocks in the background and beautiful yellow-green water flowing out of it – all masterfully designed and executed with watercolor!”
Winners in the Plein Air Categories:
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
