April 2026 Salon Art Prize

The awards for the April 2026 Salon Art Prize were announced on May 28th. The selections were made by judge, Catherine Saks, owner of Saks Gallery in Denver, CO. The overall and category winners will now be included in the judging for the 14th Annual Salon Art Prize being awarded in May 2027.

FIRST PLACE

Jane Jones, Mysteries at Risk
Oil, 47×72 in.

SECOND PLACE

Rick J. Delanty, Radiant
Oil, 14×18 in.

THIRD PLACE

Mario Panis (Philippines), Alone in the Park
Oil, 48×96 in. in.

CATEGORY WINNERS

Each category award winner is now entered into the Annual Competition. Judges will review all the winners from the 16th Annual Salon Art Prize, and we will award over $65,000 at the Annual Competition held in May 2027.

A young girl in a sleeveless dress stands in shallow ocean waves, her hair blowing as she plays in the water, creating splashes around her feet. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Watercolor painting of rustic wooden cabins scattered across a dry, rocky desert landscape with sparse bushes. Dramatic cliffs and mountains rise in the background under a soft, pastel-hued sky at sunset. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A soft, dreamy night landscape with a glowing full moon in a misty blue sky, faintly illuminating trees, a quiet river, and gentle reflections on the water. Small fireflies dot the dark foreground. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A sunlit forest path in autumn, with trees on both sides displaying bright yellow, orange, and green leaves. Shadows and patches of sunlight dapple the ground, and a clear blue sky is visible through the foliage. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A misty landscape with green fields in the foreground, rows of crops, and clusters of trees on the left and in the background under a cloudy, gray sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionist painting of mountains, trees, and a river under a partly cloudy sky, with vibrant greens, purples, and blues, reflecting the landscape in the water below. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A woman wearing a beanie and a denim jacket stands in front of a weathered, graffiti-covered wall, looking off to the side with a serious expression. The image is in black and white. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A realistic painting of three acorns and oak leaves tied with a red string, hanging on a green wooden panel. A small white moth hovers nearby, adding a delicate touch to the composition. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A shirtless man with a towel around his waist stands at a bathroom sink, looking into a mirror. His reflection shows him adjusting a shaving brush. Natural light streams through a window beside him. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A vibrant arrangement of lilies in various colors—white, pink, red, and yellow—lies on a reflective black surface with green leaves, set against a dark background. Some petals and glass shards are scattered around. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Sunlight streams through tall, dense trees in a lush green forest, illuminating ferns and undergrowth on the forest floor. The scene feels peaceful with dappled light and layers of foliage. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A sunlit rural scene with several horses grazing in a misty field, surrounded by trees. A large tree stands in the foreground, and a blue water trough sits near a fence. The morning light creates a peaceful, golden atmosphere. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A painting of a landscape showing distant mountains under a cloudy sky, with sun rays breaking through. In the foreground, there is green grass and wildflowers, with dark trees to the left. The overall mood is serene and atmospheric. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A person in a wide-brimmed hat decorated with flowers walks along a sandy beach, carrying several colorful bags and cushions with the ocean and rocks visible in the background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A cowboy in a red shirt and wide-brim hat rides a bucking horse across a dusty plain, with dirt flying and distant mountains under a cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A landscape painting of a sunset sky with soft clouds in shades of blue, orange, and yellow above a dark, flat horizon and fields, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionist painting of a mountain range with jagged peaks under a blue sky, featuring vibrant green, yellow, and pink brushstrokes depicting a lively, colorful landscape in the foreground. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A detailed, front-facing view of a black steam locomotive numbered 1309 sits on tracks at a station, with steam rising and a red caboose visible in the background to the right. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTIONS

The category honorable mention recipients are eligible to re-enter their paintings into future competitions.

A still life painting of an orange lily in a blue pot and a leafy green plant in a yellow jug, set on a striped cloth with another yellow jug beside them. Shadows of the plants are cast on the white wall in the background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionistic painting of a rocky coastline with jagged rocks in the foreground, blue-green waves crashing onto the shore, and a cloudy sky above. The artists signature is visible in the lower right corner. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A person draped in a patterned lace shawl sits in darkness, holding a lit candle that softly illuminates their face and attire, creating a mysterious and ethereal atmosphere. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Impressionist painting of a serene landscape with rolling green hills, a reflective body of water in the foreground, and blue mountains under a partly cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A woman in a white blouse and pink skirt holds up her dress as she wades barefoot through shallow water, with sunlight reflecting off the surface and rocks scattered around. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Two vintage oil lanterns hang on a rustic wall beside a window. Sunlight streams in, casting soft shadows. Below the lanterns sits a black pot, and on the windowsill are two round objects and a basket with fabric. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Three people sail a small boat with a white and yellow sail on shimmering blue water with mountains in the background under a bright sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A ceramic vase filled with soft white and pale yellow roses sits on a surface against a muted, warm-toned background in this realistic still life painting. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, blue shirt, and chaps walks beside a brown horse on a grassy area near a wooden structure, with trees and sunlight in the background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A group of helmeted guinea fowl walk through tall, golden-brown grass, blending into the field with their dark, speckled feathers and red and white faces. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A serene lake with clear water is bordered by pine trees and snow-capped mountains in the distance. Fallen logs and branches float on the water near the grassy shoreline under a partly cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A woman wearing a dark striped dress and a crown of sunflowers raises her hand gently. Behind her, pastel purple and yellow flowers hang against a pale blue background. The lighting is soft and the expression is contemplative. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A snowy farm landscape at sunset, with orange and blue hues in the sky. Barns and outbuildings have warm lights inside, and dark shapes of cattle are visible in the snowy field. Mountains are silhouetted in the distance. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A decorative wrought iron balcony and railing cast intricate shadows on a peach-colored wall. Sunlight highlights the ornate designs, and a dark doorway opens onto the small balcony. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A serene painting depicts a calm seashore at sunset, with gentle waves, pastel-colored clouds, and a soft gradient sky blending blues, pinks, and yellows. The artist’s signature appears in the bottom right corner. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A watercolor painting of a two-story farmhouse with a front porch, surrounded by tall trees and bushes. A dirt path leads from the foreground to the house, set under a cloudy, gray sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Sunlight filters through tall trees onto a grassy field bordered by a stone fence. Two barns sit in the background, and long shadows stretch across the ground, highlighting the warmth of an autumn afternoon. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Impressionist-style painting of a sunlit forest with tall green and golden trees, a small pond or creek in the center, and reflections of foliage on the water under a soft, light-filled sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A waterfall cascades over rocky ledges surrounded by lush green trees, with sunlight illuminating parts of the water and rocks, creating a natural, serene scene. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

FINALISTS

Each month all the entries are reviewed and scored by a judge. The paintings with the highest scores become the Finalists. The awards for the monthly competition are selected from this group of finalist.

April 2026 Awards

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

CATEGORY WINNERS

CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTIONS

FINALISTS

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