Master artist Natasha Isenhour has revealed her selections for the August 2025 PleinAir Salon art competition. Scroll down to see the winning paintings and read Natasha’s comments on her top picks.
PleinAir Salon Art Competition Winners Preview:
1st Place Overall: “A Touch of Lace”
On “A Touch of Lace”
“When I saw this painting on my first pass, I knew it was one I would have to study more deeply,” Natasha said. “I ‘felt’ this painting. It drew me in right away with the strong composition and skillful manipulation of complimentary color and overall palette that first invites you to look around, then brings you gently back to the subject.
“But what also makes this painting work so well is the varied edges. The artist is manipulating your eye and showing you what they want you to see. For instance, the leaves in the pot are soft focus, framing the subject by going up, out of the vessel, then guiding your eye back into the light and to the subject again. Meanwhile the leaves on the table have harder edges which add weight to the composition, helping to anchor the subjects on the table. So many lovely attributes here. Masterful work!”
2nd Place Overall: “Mystery Theatre”
On “Mystery Theatre”
“This painting exemplifies that sometimes less is more in a successful landscape, or any painting for that matter. That spark of hot light that then subtly radiates through the middle third of the work tells the story of a split second of time. I find this painting to be one that could be anywhere for a viewer. The soft edges and suggestion of vegetation using shifts in value tell you everything you need to know without explaining too much. A breathtaking spontaneous burst of emotion driven by beautiful mark-making and a thoughtful palette.”
3rd Place Overall: “Cotton’s, After Sunset”
On “Cotton’s, After Sunset”
“Mood and emotion drive me to paint. So when I see a painting that can shift my mood at a first glance, I’m sure to explore it further. This tonal masterpiece gives you miles and miles to explore. Its nighttime feeling makes your eyes ‘adjust’ as any scene does where light is minimal. As you continue looking at the piece, more things come into view. From the motion of the water and the subtlety of the light hitting the water, from far out in the distance to the closest wave leaving the bottom of the page, the painting is alive in its execution. This artist used a skillful range of value and temperature to bring this masterful seascape to life. There are so many lessons and endless beautiful transitions to explore in this piece.”
Plein Air Category Winners:
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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