We’d like to congratulate Maria Josenhans for winning Overall First Place in the November 2023 PleinAir Salon, judged by Skip Whitcomb.
“The Josenhans water painting is a beautiful orchestration of natural shapes and color harmonies,” Skip said. “It is woven together with lost and found edges and values that move the viewer through an exciting journey of the entire surface of her canvas. It’s an outstanding example of what Whistler referred to as ‘visual poetry.’”
“Direct observation is at the core of all of my paintings,” Maria says. “When I am struck by something my impulse is to describe it in paint. I want to study its tangible and intangible qualities, and to notice something that perhaps was thought too banal for consideration.
“I find that given time, most things reveal themselves as perfect, just as they are. Observing and translating my vision, thoughts, and feelings into paint is how I have come to reconcile my desire to paint with my insatiable love of the outdoors.
“If beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, then it is my hope that when others look at my paintings they too may recall their own unguarded moments with nature and delight in a tender tribute to the ordinary.”
Connect with Maria Josenhans and see more of her art at www.mariajosenhans.com.
About the PleinAir Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, this annual online art competition, with 11 monthly cycles, leading to the annual Salon Grand Prize winners, is designed to stimulate artistic growth through competition. The competition rewards artists with $50,000 in cash prizes and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir® Magazine.
Winners in each monthly competition may receive recognition and exposure through PleinAir Magazine’s print magazine, e-newsletters, websites, and social media. Winners of each competition will also be entered into the annual competition. The Annual Awards will be presented live at the next Plein Air Convention & Expo.
The next round of the PleinAir Salon has begun so hurry, as this competition ends on the last day of the month. Enter your best art in the PleinAir Salon here.
.
PleinAir® Magazine is a registered trademark of Streamline Publishing, Inc.
