August 2025 Awards

The awards for the August 2025 PleinAir Salon Art Competition were announced on September 30th. The selections were made by judge, Natasha Isenhour. The overall and category winners will now be included in the judging for the 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition being awarded in May 2026.

Paula Holtzclaw, A Touch of Lace
Oil, 16×20 in.

“When I saw this painting on my first pass, I knew it was one I would have to study more deeply. I “felt” this painting. It drew me in right away 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!”

Christine Code (Canada), Mystery Theatre
Oil, 16×20 in.

“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.”

Rick J. Delanty, Cotton’s, After Sunset
Acrylic, 12×16 in.

“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 the piece, the 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.”

Each category award winner is now entered into the Annual Competition. Judges will review all the winners from the 15th Annual PleinAir Salon, and we will award over $26,000 at the Annual Competition held in May 2026.

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

Each month all the entries are reviewed and scored by a judge. The paintings with the highest scores become the Finalists.