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”
“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”
“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”
“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:
“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.”
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
