The awards for the July 2024 PleinAir Salon Art Competition were announced on August 28th. The selections were made by judge, Thomas W. Schaller. The overall and category winners will now be included in the judging for the 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition being awarded in May 2026.
FIRST PLACE
J.M. Brodrick, Southside
Acrylic, 30×24 in.
“A lyrical intersection of prose and poetry elevates this work. The solidity of an everyday urban scene is secondary to the overwhelmingly beautiful and ephemeral atmospherics. Brilliant editing, outstanding brushwork, intriguing composition, and a deeply affecting understanding of light, color, and the illusion of space and perspective make this painting simply brilliant.”
SECOND PLACE
Margaret Washington, The Card Game
Washington, 28×17 in.
“The dialog of contrasts is particularly effective here. Light and dark, vertical and horizontal energies, warm and cool tonalities, stillness and expansiveness, are all so well composed. All there are coupled with a strong and expertly portrayed sense narrative.”
THIRD PLACE
Paula Holtzclaw, Remembrance
Oil, 12×18 in.
“Exquisite technique may not be sufficient for a work to excel. But when a high skill level is coupled with elevated taste and sensibility – as is the case here – magic can happen.”
CATEGORY WINNERS
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.
CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTIONS
The category honorable mention recipients are eligible to re-enter their paintings into future competitions.
TOP 100 FINALISTS
Each month all the entries are reviewed and scored by a judge. The paintings with the highest scores are juried in as the Finalists. The awards for the monthly competition are selected from this group of finalist.
