Artist Larry Moore has revealed his selections for the June 2025 PleinAir Salonart competition. Larry, who embraces all forms of creative expression, said judging an art show is somewhat of a juggling act, and it’s never easy. To make his judging a fair process, he set up a few rules for himself:
- Honor the range of styles, not just one application
2. Award both concept and ability
3. Award the pieces that transcend the content and operate as a whole
“There were quite a few pieces in this show that could’ve been in the top three,” Larry said. “Changing any one of the top three would have affected some of the category picks, but each satisfies my three rules.”
PleinAir Salon Art Competition Winners Preview:
1st Place Overall: “Dreamscape” (Above)
“This flower painting was an almost immediate choice for best of show,” Larry said. “It’s a great example of making the ordinary extraordinary. The way the flowers float in the dark space is compelling. The space itself has variety in the negative shapes; no two distances are the same. There is a beautiful range of variety in mark-making and edges, and the flowers themselves move forward and backward in space.”
2nd Place Overall: “You’ll Be Alright”
Second Place Overall: Esther Chan (Hong Kong), “You’ll Be Alright,” Oil, 31.5×23.6 in
“This figurative piece shows more than just ability. There’s an idea in it, a narrative. The veil means something, symbolizes something important, and it’s up to the viewer to figure out what that means to them. It’s thoughtful, delicate, and masterfully done.”
3rd Place Overall: “Hollyhock Garden”
Third Place Overall: Daniel Keys, “Hollyhock Garden,” Oil, 10×8 in.
“This plein air landscape is a masterclass in one of the most important tenets I’ve found in creative expression: variation. The house isn’t the star, it’s a supporting cast member for the flower garden. Every leaf and flower has its own identity. No shape or color repeats exactly; that’s variation in a nutshell.”
Plein Air Category Winners
Best Plein Air Acrylic & Gouache: Deliece Blanchard, “Il Giardino,” Gouache, 8×5 in.
Best Plein Air Oil: Jason Sacran, “Off North Ponce,” Oil, 20×16 in.
Best Plein Air Pastel: Marsha Savage, “Old Soul,” Pastel, 12×9 in.
Best Plein Air Watercolor: Robin Purcell, “Green Velvet,” Watercolor, 14×21 in.
Best Plein Air Landscape: Jason Sacran, “The Forgotten,” Oil, 24×20 in.
On Entering Your Work:
“It’s always good to submit work for a show but don’t take it personally if you don’t win,” Larry advises. “It’s way more complicated than ‘good or not good’; judging is a chess match. There are many pieces that could’ve received awards, but the category structure (which is fine) changes the way choices are made. Choose your category carefully.
“Every piece of the painting matters. If a chunk of the piece you want to submit is great, but there’s something not quite right about some other part of the painting, we (the judges) will go right to the part that doesn’t work.
“Keep painting. Paint what really interests you – uniqueness (authenticity) stands out.”
Enter the PleinAir Salon Art Competition Today
All winners in the PleinAir® Salon 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 special guest judge of this month’s PleinAir Salon Art Competition is…
Natasha Isenhour
Master Artist
Natasha Isenhour is a Contemporary American Realist working in oil, pastel and watercolor. A sought-after juror/judge, speaker and demonstrator exhibiting her work throughout the southwest, Isenhour teaches several sold-out workshops each year, both in plein air and in studio. Read more about Natasha’s accomplishments here.
ADVICE FROM A JUDGE
January 2023 judge CW Mundy says:
- If you are going to enter any art competition, only enter paintings you really love.
- If you have peers whom you trust in their judgments, it is always wise to get counsel from them. I often consult with my wife and with students that I mentor, and with other top artists if I feel the necessity.
- Don’t allow yourself to be destroyed mentally if you don’t get an award. Even though the judge has objective standards, judging seems to be about 70% subjective.
The 4th Annual PleinAir Salon Grand Prize winner, Jim McVicker understands that.
‘“I entered that one four times,” says the artist from Eureka, California. “It had been seen by three other judges before Joe McGurl picked it. But I felt it was a good painting. Normally, if a painting doesn’t get picked, I let it go. But I was convinced that one of these judges was going to see what I saw in it.”
McVicker also says, “Never give up. Never give up on a painting that you think is good. Keep focused. Keep working. I’ve always done that with my painting, but it was interesting to see it work that way with the Salon.”’
– McVicker Takes Top Honor, OutdoorPainter.com, 2004
To enter the PleinAir Salon for your chance at over $50,000 in cash prizes, visit PleinAirSalon.com. Enter by August 15th and take advantage of the Early Bird Discount of 25% off EVERY entry
