Camille Przewodek
2023-2024
“I had three paintings in the top three. So when they went through all the awards, you know, the finalists, the third place, the second place, I’m thinking, I’m either walking away with nothing, or I’m gonna get the grand prize… then I heard [my name], it was amazing. I mean, this has been my goal for 13 years. So now I can cross that off my list of things to do.”
Sadly Camille passed away shortly after achieving her goal.
Kimball Geisler
2022-2023
“Along with all of the prize money, attention, and new career opportunities (of which there have been many), winning the PleinAir Salon gave me a whole lot of self-confidence and validation that I didn’t know I needed. I realize that with so many submissions to the contest it could have easily gone a different way, and that time it just happened to work out for me. But just to have won some monthly awards, and then to be included as a finalist, that was a dream come true. It made me feel like my work was being seen and appreciated by other people, and possibly MANY other people. That confidence has stayed with me and has been a major motivator as I continue to try to do better than my last painting. If this is the last accomplishment I ever have, I think it will have been a pretty good run. Can’t complain about that!”
Jennifer McChristian
2021-2022
“Winning the 11th Annual PleinAir Salon Grand Prize two years ago felt incredibly surreal. You have an anticipation and a hope that you’ll even place in such a prestigious competition, but you’re never really mentally prepared to actually win it. It was a wonderful experience, not so much for the giant check and prize money, but just for the recognition and appreciation of my paintings by my peers.
It impacted my career in a subtle way, in that I had several opportunities that I’d been avoiding because of my own personal reservations. Winning the Grand Prize gave me the confidence to move forward and agree to take on these challenges. So in the year following winning, I shot two instructional videos for PleinAir Magazine, and presented on stage at the 2024 Plein Air Convention & Expo.
My advice is, don’t compete with others, compete with yourself. Don’t give up on entering contests, regardless of disappointments you may have experienced in previous contests. And I advise that you set your painting quality standards really high and put your best foot forward. If you do that, it will challenge you to produce your best work and will raise the bar on your artistic abilities.“
Lori Putnam
2020-2021
“Winning a major prize like the PleinAir Salon is a real shocker. I can’t even tell you how many times I asked myself why in the world I was even entering. Self-doubt keeps me from doing a lot of things. But at least there was a small hope of getting seen by a judge who might take notice and, once the name was revealed to them, they would contact me for representation. Every time one of my paintings placed in the monthly competitions, I would think maybe, just maybe I might make it to the finals.
Here’s how it played out:
My win was during the lockdown so there was no in-person [Plein Air Convention]. I had two pieces in the running during the live, online presentations by PleinAir Magazine. They asked all of the top 25 artists to be available online during the awards. Having absolutely no belief that I would need to be seen “live,” I sat comfortably in my sweats and certainly did not set up any kind of video light. There I was, listening to the honorable mentions, none of which I received.
“Oh well,” I thought, “Look at all of these fabulous finalists. I’m so grateful to be one of them.” Then, they announced the People’s Choice Award and I won! There was one of my paintings on the screen to prove it. I was so stunned and incredibly happy. The announcements continued, third place, second place, and suddenly, there was a knock on my front door. “Who? What? At this hour? I hope they have a mask on.” So many thoughts ran through my head in a split second.
Online I heard them say, “And the Grand Prize winner is…Lori P…,” and I saw my other painting pop up on the computer screen. I’m screaming, jumping up and down, and calling for my husband who is opening our door. A local artist friend walked in holding the large cardboard $15,000 check and balloons. It is still all unbelievable. The point is, even if you doubt yourself over and over again, enter, over and over again. We are probably our own worst critics. Don’t give up. It may be your turn to win.”
Dave Santillanes
2019-2020
“Gaining name recognition in this business is always a combination of mastering your craft and then marketing that achievement. I think one of the best, most cost-effective and organic ways to market your work is to enter and, hopefully, get into high-end and exclusive shows like the PleinAir Salon. Because of the exclusivity, just getting in is an opportunity to promote the achievement, and an important step in gaining name recognition. And then if you happen to win an award, momentum becomes self-propelled as others pitch in to promote you. And finally, if you win a top prize, it can be career-changing and exposure to your work grows tenfold.
But whether you get into those shows or not, you are being given an honest appraisal of where your work stands and how it’s being received compared to your peers. This information can be motivational and can provide an important barometer for setting goals.“
Tom Hughes
2018-2019
“Winning the Grand Prize was gratifying to me for a few reasons. The check was very welcome, of course, and I achieved what had become an informal objective for myself, especially since I’d wholly unexpectedly been awarded third place the year before — to win the prize. Of course it was a surprise again when I was called up on stage at the 2019 convention. Lastly, I found that I could no longer tell myself the fib that nobody ever looked at my pictures — a pleasant change.“
Jim Wodark
2017-2018
“I’ve entered many competitions and I think the best benefit for me was that it pushed me to become better at painting and all that it encompasses. I like the fact that if I wanted to win, I would have to paint better than what I thought was the best painting in the competition! That was a big task! But, I liked the challenge and it worked for me! Even if you don’t win the first place prize, if you start winning honorable mentions and other awards over several competitions, then you can see that your work is improving.
My Grand Prize Painting “Prairie Sundown” 24×48 won the Grand Prize in the 7th year of the PleinAir Salon Art Competition. I won 3rd prize in an earlier year, so persistence, and effort to paint better, worked in improving my ability to paint.”
Kathleen Hudson
2016-2017
“The PleinAir Salon win came at a time in my career when it was poised for maximum impact. I’ll always be grateful for the huge boost it provided as a vote of confidence in my work. In 2017 I had been painting the landscape for over 20 years, but I had only recently learned about plein air festivals and took part in my first juried one in 2016. The Grand Prize in the PleinAir Salon helped get my work in front of invitational event jurors, galleries, and art schools—it opened a lot of doors that might have taken years otherwise.“
Carl Bretzke
2015-2016
“In 2016, I was shocked but thrilled to win the PleinAir Salon grand prize for my painting, Winter Sunset Near The Farmer’s Market. That win started a chain reaction of several other happy art moments for me. Literally minutes after winning, I was approached and asked to be included in a well known Plein Air Invitational event the next fall. Within a week, I had an offer for gallery representation by a respected east coast gallery. Pretty much every year since 2016 I have been included as a faculty member at PACE. I also have no doubt that the name recognition has helped with sales and entry into additional Plein Air events. Finally, with the prize money I was able to purchase a studio space in a desirable Minneapolis artist’s building…. So yes, it is good to win the PleinAir Salon!
When I submit [a painting] for the Salon, I feel I am only competing with myself to put my favorite work out there and see how it does. Similar to plein air events, if I like what I submit, I will be happy whether I win or lose.”
Jim McVicker
2014-2015
“Winning the top prize was an honor and a thrill the moment it happened at the [Plein Air] convention. I will never forget it. It really did bring more name recognition, more followers on social media, the start of a relationship with a new gallery and I believe a direct boost in my sales.
I know you know the story, but I did enter the winning painting several times before a judge awarded it a bi-monthly prize. I believed in the work and was sure it would get noticed.
I usually don’t do this, but I visualized it on the cover. Even after each time it didn’t make the bi-monthly cut, I still saw it on the cover.
A very funny story happened after winning. My wife and I went around to several of the art suppliers and bought a lot of products. I had not tried Rosemary Brushes before and picked up a handful at Rosemary’s booth. I waited my turn and asked Rosemary the price. She said, “for you Jim, $15,000.”
Stewart White
2013-2014
“I have burned in my memory the view from the stage looking out at a sea of painters who, like myself, enjoy dragging some gear out and setting up outdoors to scratch away and this need to paint. When accepting the “Big Check”, I cannot remember if I said anything that made any sense because, frankly, I was completely caught off guard. You could not ask for any more validation from your peers than that.
I cannot point to a particular event that I could say came from winning the Big Whopping Grand Prize. What I got was a profound feeling of pride and accomplishment. At the outset, I was not optimistic about my work in watercolor plein air painting receiving any attention in a field dominated by oil painters. It certainly boosted my confidence in painting watercolor. I believe my circle of artist friends expanded substantially.
Winning also enhanced my credibility to teach workshops. I think, more than anything else, I was drawn into the ever-growing plein air community. That alone has had a large impact on the course of my art career ever since.
There are so many wonderful painters out there to imitate. We live in a time of fingertip access to any artistic style, artists or techniques that we can think of. It is overwhelming. I say stick to what you think is beautiful and compelling and craft your “voice” to express those things in the most beautiful way you can. Be honest about your growth in painting. Watch a video or 2, pour over art books, and always sketch, sketch, sketch. Love your subjects and love yourself for trying things that may or may not work out. You be the judge of your efforts no matter what.”
Shelby Keefe
2012-2013
““Visibility” is the key-word for putting yourself out there! Getting awarded is the frosting on the cake for sure, but taking the risk and showing your artwork is a great incentive for doing your best paintings and upping your game.
We grow as artists through the rejections as well as the acceptances—but if we don’t do anything at all, it’s certain we won’t ever “win.” I’m not a gambler— but the concept is the same: I will never win the lottery if I don’t play!
If I hadn’t entered the PleinAir Salon, I wouldn’t have attained the national recognition I enjoy right now.”
D. Eleinne Basa
2011-2012
“Winning the Grand Prize in the 1st Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition, and being presented onstage at the Plein Air Convention, has been a transformative experience for me as an artist. It significantly boosted my visibility within the art community. The recognition has opened doors to new opportunities, including gallery representation, increased sales, and invitations to participate in prestigious exhibitions, ultimately propelling my career forward in exciting ways.”
