Trees Take Top 3 This Month in PleinAir Salon

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David Ethridge, owner and curator of Gallery 1261 in Denver, Colorado, has revealed his selections for the winners in the August 2024 PleinAir® Salon. Scroll down to see the winning paintings and read David’s comments on his top picks.

PleinAir Salon Winners Preview:

1st Place Overall: “Mid Summer Night, Romans 5:4”

PleinAir Salon - Thomas Kegler, “Mid Summer Night, Romans 5:4,” Oil, 20x16 in. — Thomas Kegler, “Mid Summer Night, Romans 5:4,” Oil, 20×16 in.

“I chose Thomas Kegler’s ‘Mid Summer Night, Romans 5:4’ for first place due to its captivating portrayal of a tree at night,” said David. “The masterful use of light and shadow creates a compelling mood, imbuing the scene with a narrative quality that invites repeated viewing.”

2nd Place Overall: “Deep Forest”

PleinAir Salon - Natalie Hirschman (South Africa), “Deep Forest,” Oil, 20x16 in. — Natalie Hirschman (South Africa), “Deep Forest,” Oil, 20×16 in.

“I selected Natalie Hirschman’s ‘Deep Forest’ for second place due to its compelling composition and rich color palette. The harmonious integration of the figure within the intricate natural forms creates a captivating visual narrative, showcasing the artist’s skill in balancing figurative and natural elements.”

3rd Place Overall: “Winter Stillness”

PleinAir Salon - Stephanie Mills (United Kingdom), “Winter Stillness,” Oil, 12x24 in. — Stephanie Mills (United Kingdom), “Winter Stillness,” Oil, 12×24 in.

“I selected Stephanie Mill’s winter landscape for third place due to its captivating atmosphere. The artist’s masterful use of a limited palette beautifully evokes the serene essence of a frost-laden scene.”

Best Plein Air Paintings:

Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska (Ukraine), “Autumn Evening,” Oil, 19.7x27.5 in. — Best Plein Air Landscape: Alisa Onipchenko-Cherniakovska (Ukraine), “Autumn Evening,” Oil, 19.7×27.5 in.

Steve Browning (Ireland), “Valencia Tower,” Acrylic, 6x8 in. — Best Plein Air Acrylic & Gouache: Steve Browning (Ireland), “Valencia Tower,” Acrylic, 6×8 in.

Vlad Milan Duchev, “Whispers of Night,” Oil, 18x18 in. — Best Plein Air Oil: Vlad Milan Duchev, “Whispers of Night,” 18×18 in.

Steven Hill, “Fisherman Bay Winter Sunset,” Pastel, 13x19 in. — Best Plein Air Pastel: Steven Hill, “Fisherman Bay Winter Sunset,” 13×19 in.

Best Plein Air Watercolor: Nina Vakueva (Montenegro), “Walk Around the Port Town,” 10x15 in. — Best Plein Air Watercolor: Nina Vakueva (Montenegro), “Walk Around the Port Town,” 10×15 in.

“To artists considering entering their work: Image quality is crucial,” David said. “High-resolution, sharp images are essential for showcasing your artwork effectively. Blurry or low-quality images often get overlooked, regardless of the artwork’s merit, simply because judges can’t properly evaluate what they can’t clearly see. Invest time in capturing professional-grade photographs of your work – it can make the difference between being considered for an award or not.”

Enter the PleinAir Salon Today

All winners 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.