Please help us congratulate Denver artist Jen Starling for winning Overall First Place in the June 2025 PleinAir Salon, judged by artist Larry Moore.
Jen tells us this painting was inspired by some beautiful white roses. Because they were falling apart, they had “extremely unusual shapes and patterns.”
“The biggest challenge while painting ‘Dreamscape’ was capturing the variety of temperatures in the shadows,” she said. “They varied from a warm orangish glow toward the inside and cooler purple in other areas. I’m always interested in pushing saturation, but there is a limit. That limit can often be hard to determine, especially in the shadows. I’m not so much chasing the realistic colors that I see, but using what I see as a starting point to find a harmony that I find appealing.”
“’Dreamscape’ is a great example of making the ordinary extraordinary,” said Larry. “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.”
Artist Statement:
“My work makes a personal statement that is an amalgamation of my experiences, and a desire for deep connection with others, the natural world, and myself. It speaks to the search for meaning, peace, and spiritual connection that is inherently human. I aim to show a complexity of emotion in my subjects, including vulnerability. When people witness vulnerability in others, compassion ensues, and allows them to feel connected regardless of their differences. When viewing my work, I wish for there to be an exchange that validates the viewer’s humanity, and ignites self awareness. It is from this place of vulnerability that growth and healing are possible.”
Additional PleinAir Salon Winning Paintings by Jen Starling
Connect with Jen Starling at jenstarlingart.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 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.
View more artist and collector profiles here at FineArtConnoisseur.com.
