PleinAir Salon Winner: Thomas W. Schaller Selects “Southside”

Please help us congratulate J.M. Brodrick for winning Overall First Place in the July 2025 PleinAir Salon, judged by master artist Thomas W. Schaller.

“A lyrical intersection of prose and poetry elevates this work,” Thomas said. “The solidity of an everyday urban scene is secondary to the overwhelmingly beautiful and ephemeral atmospherics. Brilliant editing, outstanding brushwork, intriguing composition, and a deeply affecting understanding of light, color, and the illusion of space and perspective make this painting simply brilliant.”

J.M. Brodrick’s paintings include a wide range of themes from the beauty of old growth forests to city scenes, birds, animals, and people. Her works are described as serene and peaceful but can include both drama and poetic tenderness along with a unique softness and graceful sense of beauty.

Her use of colors laid over each other result in hues that seem to glow from within, playing one color off the other in harmony much as a composer would use combinations of notes to form a symphony. Brodrick studied painting in her youth and received her first scholarship at the age of 13. Her grandmother, who was a professional artist from Helsinki Finland, guided her love of the arts. She grew up in a working artist environment. “My grandmother helped me connect with other artists and shaped me at an early age to express myself with painting” says Brodrick. In 1977 she moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, where the rugged lifestyle and freedom of the open country inspired her to further develop her artistic talents. Brodrick now lives in Oregon and is surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Connect with the artist at www.jmbrodrick.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.