What’s Left Unsaid: PleinAir Salon Winners

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Artist Kathleen Dunphy has revealed her selections for the winners in the June 2024 PleinAir® Salon. Scroll down to see some of the top winners, and Kathleen’s comments on why she chose the top three!

PleinAir Salon Winners Preview:

1st Place Overall: Emily ‘Inchoate’

PleinAir Salon - Annie Murphy-Robinson, “Emily ‘Inchoate’,” Charcoal, 42x32 in. — Annie Murphy-Robinson, “Emily ‘Inchoate’,” Charcoal, 42×32 in.

This drawing showed “beautiful execution and understanding of the medium, coupled with accurate drawing and a big emotional impact makes for a masterful work of art,” said judge Kathleen Dunphy. “What’s left unsaid in this drawing is what elevates it: the half-shadowed face, the moody background, the dream-like quality. Striking, unique, and unforgettable.”

Murphy-Robinson also won the May 2024 PleinAir Salon with her charcoal drawing “Casey, ‘Waiting’.”

2nd Place Overall: Market Day, Aix en Provence

PleinAir Salon - Kevin Macpherson, “Market Day, Aix en Provence,” Oil, 20x24 in. — Kevin Macpherson, “Market Day, Aix en Provence,” Oil, 20×24 in.

“Light emanates from this work (above), like there’s radiance in the paint itself. The subject matter is so complex but there is no trace of effort or overworking – a true sleight of hand when this much perspective and figure work is involved! Beautiful observation of subtle color shifts in the shadows while maintaining the overall value structure.”

3rd Place Overall: Overcast Day in the Tuileries

PleinAir Salon - Kyle Ma, “Overcast Day in the Tuileries,” Oil, 24x20 in. — Kyle Ma, “Overcast Day in the Tuileries,” Oil, 24×20 in.

“‘Overcast Day in the Tuileries’ is another painting with incredibly complex subject matter that’s so well depicted: pulling off the task of accurately painting the building while keeping it quiet enough for the foreground focal areas to shine takes amazing restraint and accuracy. The repetition of the purple-ish tone of the tree behind the statue throughout the painting keeps the eye moving while the flowers in the foreground lead us into the scene. So well done!”

Best Plein Air Landscape: Winter Gardens AKA Musical Notes

Elizabeth Billups, ”Winter Gardens AKA Musical Notes,” Oil, 16x20 in. — Elizabeth Billups, ”Winter Gardens AKA Musical Notes,” Oil, 16×20 in.

Best Plein Air Acrylic & Gouache: Rowing Trieste

Bernard Dellario, “Rowing Trieste,” Gouache, 8x8 in. — Bernard Dellario, “Rowing Trieste,” Gouache, 8×8 in.

Best Plein Air Oil: Bird Houses

Deborah Tilby, “Bird Houses,” Oil, 6x8 in. — Deborah Tilby, “Bird Houses,” Oil, 6×8 in.

Best Plein Air Pastel: Winter Colors

Marla Baggetta, “Winter Colors,” Pastel, 8x11 in. — Marla Baggetta, “Winter Colors,” Pastel, 8×11 in.

Best Plein Air Watercolor: A Pink Lighter Than Air

Poppy Balser (Canada), “A Pink Lighter Than Air,” Watercolor, 16x20 in. — Poppy Balser (Canada), “A Pink Lighter Than Air,” Watercolor, 16×20 in.

Enter the PleinAir Salon Today

All winners will be entered into the judging for the annual cash prizes, including the Grand Prize of $15,000 and their painting on the cover of PleinAir® Magazine. Could you be the next winner?

The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. See the rest of this month’s winners and enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.