We’d like to congratulate Brian Blood for winning Overall First Place in the January 2024 PleinAir Salon, judged by Lisa Skelly, plein air artist and owner of Huse Skelly Gallery.
“This painting feels like it belongs alongside the French Impressionist paintings at the Musee d’Orsay,” Skelly said. “Brian has expertly composed this scene like one of Vivaldi’s masterpieces.
“The exciting play of light behind this historic bridge guides us through the arches and playfully envelopes the long boat that is waiting to take us on a cruise down the Seine River. We can escape into Brian’s painting because he has expertly orchestrated a masterpiece with wonderful light throughout the scene. I wish this one was in my own collection.”
Primarily a plein air painter, Brian Blood creates hundreds of studies directly from nature, observing the ever-changing light of day. He then takes his studies and supporting reference photos back to his Pebble Beach studio to paint. He uses these studies as the basis for his larger-scale works. In 2017 Blood and his wife, artist Laurie Kersey, opened a Fine Art Gallery and Studio located at the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel, CA, allowing art lovers and collectors to interact and view the most current artworks the couple have created.
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.
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