September 2023 Awards

The awards for the September 2023 PleinAir Salon Art Competition were announced on October 31st. The selections were made by our judge, award-winning artist William A. Suys, Jr. The overall and category winners will now be included in the judging for the 13th Annual PleinAir Salon Competition being awarded in May 2024.

John Buxton, How Many Beaver?
Oil, 12×9 in.

“This painting has a visceral presence and power. Even though it is presented on a simple background, I sense a real engagement and atmosphere with the subject and all the elements the artist so beautifully selected and rendered. Clearly, a piece that comes to life.”

Carmen Drake, Rusty Enamel and Violets
Oil, 10×8 in.

“This still life is masterfully done. There is an organic, unified feel between the disparate materials presented and the space they occupy. As I explore this space, I feel a sense of quiet, and I can almost hear the sound of the enameled pan if I were I to slide it and pick it up. Well worth spending some time in front of this painting.”

Rukiye Garip (Turkey), Creek
Watercolor, 30×22 in.

“This landscape presents a trip through light, color and texture. Even with the myriad of bits and pieces rendered along the way, this does not feel like a busy painting; it’s more like a dance along a creek.”

Each category award winner is now entered into the Annual Competition. Judges will review all the winners from the 13th Annual PleinAir Salon, and we will award over $22,000 at the Annual Competition held in May 2024.

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 Top 100 Finalists. (In the event of tied scores, there may be more than 100). The awards for the monthly competition are selected from this group of finalist.

Click here to view all the entrants to the September PleinAir Salon Art Competition.