PleinAir Salon First Place Overall: “Dawn’s Grace” (oil, 16 x 20 in.) by Chris Bell
First Place Overall: “Dawn’s Grace” (oil, 16 x 20 in.) by Chris Bell

Please help us congratulate Chris Bell for winning Overall First Place in the December 2024 PleinAir Salon, for the oil landscape painting “Dawn’s Grace.”

This round was judged by Diane Waterhouse of Waterhouse Gallery. “I liked the composition,” she said, “the light, shadow, and warmth the painting radiates with the late afternoon sun, and I liked all the details in the foreground.”

Chris Bell artist
Chris Bell, artist, teacher, traveler; chrisbellfineart.com

“As a painter and teacher, I have a desire to share my vision and experiences with others. I want to paint scenes so that they convey a reality filled with emotion and inspire the viewer to observe their surroundings in new ways. We live in a fast-paced world, and I’m afraid we sometimes fail to fully appreciate the light falling upon our town, the towering clouds on a summer day, or the common interactions between people and their environment. I relish the challenge of responding to these moments in paint. My efforts on linen give me an opportunity to savor the splendor of our world and hopefully pass along this joy to others.”

From his website:

Chris’ ancestors settled in the mountains of western North Carolina in the early 1800s, where he was born on his family’s farm along the Little Tennessee River in 1989. Although no one in his family were “painters,” they were people who made things with their hands. These farmers, blacksmiths, carpenters, mechanics, seamstresses, etc. instilled in him an appreciation for craftsmanship and a sentimentality toward the landscape. Throughout his childhood, Chris was constantly drawing and with the encouragement of others, he began to develop his gift. After high school, he forewent a university art education and instead became an apprentice to the English-born artist Julyan Davis in Asheville, NC. Working closely with Davis, Chris received a foundation in studio craft and art history upon which he has applied countless hours in the studio.

As a result of the Great Recession, Chris became a witness to the struggles of artists in the Asheville area and received a unique education as he saw creatives adapting to the changing environment. As his time with Davis came to an end, Chris enrolled at Western Carolina University. He earned degrees in education and history and became both a social studies teacher and art teacher. However, he was determined to continue to paint and build a career as a professional artist. His teaching salary bought paint, supplies, and travel opportunities while he worked to find his voice as an artist.

Today, Chris is a prolific artist who is constantly inspired by his surroundings in the Carolinas and his travels abroad. He is greatly influenced by the various manifestations of Impressionism, from the Russian school to the California Impressionists of the 20th century.


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 PleinAir® Salon 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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