May 2025 PleinAir Salon Awards

The awards for the May 2025 PleinAir Salon Art Competition were announced on June 30th. The selections were made by judge, Dave Santillanes. 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

A sunlit snowy creek winds through a forest. Snow covers the ground and tree branches, while sunlight creates bright highlights and shadows. A person stands near the water, partially hidden among the trees. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

John Buxton, Sunburst Upon A Tranquil Silence
Oil, 24×22 in.

“This painting is masterfully executed. The light and atmosphere in this one immediately draws you in. Then the design takes over – moving the eye deftly through the scene ultimately to reveal the hidden story. Design, concept and execution are all fantastic.”

SECOND PLACE

Jen Starling, A Fleeting Glimpse
Oil, 16×20 in.

“I love this painting. It’s a masterclass on Edges, Color and Drawing. And the harmony of this piece goes well beyond color – the incredible textures also fit harmoniously with the rest of the painting. Fantastic.”

THIRD PLACE

A painting of a serene landscape at sunset, featuring a vibrant orange and yellow sky with soft clouds above a calm, flat terrain in muted earth tones. The horizon is low, emphasizing the colorful sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Christine Code (Canada), Frosting in the Field
Oil, 6×8 in.

“Beautiful and brief… this painting is pure poetry.”

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.

An impressionist painting of a rocky seashore under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Waves crash on rocks, and two small figures stand near the shore beside a cluster of windswept trees. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A landscape painting shows a vast green field under a blue sky, with a large, billowing cloud and hints of a rainbow. Sunlight and shadow play across the grass, creating a peaceful, atmospheric scene. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A winter scene with deep snow covering the ground, visible footprints leading toward a group of trees and a house partially hidden by snow, all under a clear, pale blue sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Impressionistic painting of a quiet suburban street with houses, trees, and shadows under a blue sky. The scene uses broad, textured strokes and soft colors to create a peaceful, sunlit atmosphere. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A dramatic sunset over distant mountains, with dark, textured clouds spreading across the sky and a warm orange glow on the horizon. Small lights from a town or cars are visible below. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A barefoot girl in a white dress stands on wet rocks by the sea, reaching out as her long hair blows in the wind. A seagull flies nearby under a dramatic, cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A white egret with yellow feet walks along the wet, sandy shore near foamy ocean waves, its feathers ruffled by the breeze. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An old, rusted machine with large wheels and a cylindrical component is overgrown with dry weeds, sitting abandoned in a field with faded grass and a cloudy sky in the background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A snowy yard with patches of grass surrounds a white and brown house. Long shadows stretch across the snow, and bare trees stand in the background under a soft, pale sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Impressionist painting of a rural landscape with a winding dirt path, tall trees, and bushes under a pastel sky, using thick, textured brushstrokes in earthy yellows, greens, blues, and pinks. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A textured painting of yellow tulips in a glass vase, surrounded by leafy greens and red radishes, set against a soft, muted background with brushstrokes adding depth and movement. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Watercolor painting of ocean waves splashing against rocky shore; turquoise and blue water with white foam contrasts with brown and gray rocks in the foreground. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A young girl in a blue jacket and gray cap stands beside a harnessed horse in a stable, gently holding the horses muzzle. The scene is softly lit, conveying a sense of calm and connection. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A cow stands near a small stream in a snowy, early spring meadow with patches of grass and melting snow. Bare trees and distant mountains appear under a cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A pencil drawing of three men pulling in a large fishing net on a dock. Two men stand in the background, while one man in the foreground is shirtless and bent over, tugging on the net. Floats are attached to the net. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Watercolor painting of several boats on dry land, propped up on stands. The central boat has the name SERENITY. The scene is sunlit, with shadows cast on the sandy ground and a light sky above. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A painting of a flowing river with rocks and fallen tree branches in the water, creating a sense of movement and natural chaos. The scene is rendered in cool blues, greens, and earthy tones. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Close-up of vibrant orange and pink cactus flowers with delicate petals and yellow stamens, surrounded by sharp, pale spines against a dark, blurred background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A painting of a white heron standing in shallow water, surrounded by a forest with green and orange foliage, with reflections and soft, blurred brushstrokes creating a dreamy, tranquil atmosphere. 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 woman in a flowing white dress sits outdoors on the grass, holding a white parasol. Sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled light and shadows across her and the scene. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A pastel painting of a sandy dune with grass, casting long shadows across the ground under a clear blue sky. The scene has soft, earthy tones and textured brushstrokes, evoking a calm, natural landscape. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A scarecrow with a beige hat, a sunflower, a pink jacket, and a long red skirt stands in a grassy field with trees in the background, arms outstretched, holding a white cloth. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionistic painting of people walking along a rocky beach with a tree in the foreground, calm blue water, and a hazy green island in the background under a cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A green streetcar travels down city tracks at night, illuminated by bright streetlights and surrounded by glowing traffic, with blurred figures walking nearby. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A vibrant sunset over a marshland, with orange and yellow hues lighting up the sky, dark silhouetted trees, and reflective water in the foreground. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A watercolor painting of a quiet suburban street with several white houses on the left, bare trees, telephone poles, and a patchy lawn, under a soft, overcast sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A cowboy wearing a wide-brimmed hat and chaps sits atop a saddled horse in an open grassy plain, with distant hills and grazing cattle in the background. The image is in black and white. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A painting of a river with white, rushing water flowing over large, sunlit rocks. The water has blue and turquoise tones, and the background features green trees under soft, natural light. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An older man with glasses and a beard smokes a pipe. The pipe’s smoke forms the shapes of birds and a flying dove against a dark background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A view over rooftops of a coastal town, with rows of colorful houses, green hills, and sunlight reflecting on the water under a cloudy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Several colorful boats, including two red ones and small blue dinghies, are moored at low tide on a muddy shore, with water and more boats in the background under a hazy sky. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A still life painting showing a glass vase with pink and white flowers, a blue patterned vase, several peaches, cherries, and a teacup on a saucer, all set on a sunlit table with a soft green background. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionist-style painting of a cat with white and dark fur, lying on a blue surface. The background features warm brown and yellow brushstrokes, creating a soft, dreamy atmosphere. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A colorful painting of a coastal landscape with cliffs, green vegetation, and waves crashing onto a sandy beach under a sky with clouds and patches of blue. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A snowy winter landscape with a small stream winding through snow-covered banks, surrounded by patches of dry grass and trees in the background. The scene is tranquil and painted in soft, muted colors. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

A snowy landscape with patches of dry grass and a wooden fence in the foreground, rolling hills in the background, and a pale sky above. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

An impressionist painting of an elderly woman cooking at a stove in a sunlit, rustic kitchen. She wears glasses, a white blouse, and a red skirt, focusing intently on her task amidst soft, colorful brushstrokes. 15th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition

Watercolor painting of a sunny urban street corner with a red brick building, a large tree casting shade, a white van parked on the street, and power lines crisscrossing above. 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 are juried in as finalists. The awards for the monthly competition are selected from this group of finalist.

May 2025 Awards

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

CATEGORY WINNERS

CATEGORY HONORABLE MENTIONS

FINALISTS

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