Please help us congratulate Ned Mueller for winning Overall First Place in the October 2025 PleinAir Salon, judged by Elaine Adams, Director of American Legacy Fine Arts.
“First Place is awarded to this painting for its luscious color palette and rich gradations of greens and blues that beautifully illuminate the water,” Elaine said. “The composition and perspective are both fascinating and expertly arranged, drawing the viewer naturally into the scene. Additionally, the anatomy and scale of the lone fisherman are rendered with exceptional accuracy, enhancing the painting’s overall harmony and narrative strength.”
About the Artist:
Born in Wisconsin and raised in Montana, Ned Mueller has been drawing and painting all of his life. He is one of the few artists that have been designated as a “Master Artist” by both the American Impressionist Society and the Oil Painters of America. He graduated from the prestigious Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles where he also taught drawing while still a student. His love for life and art is reflected in his superb paintings of a wide range of subjects including portraits, figures, animals, and landscapes, both studio and plein air.
Ned worked as an illustrator for 25 years while building a solid foundation of professionalism and has worked as a successful full time artist since 1984. He continued to enhance his knowledge and skills by taking workshops with master artists Harley Brown, Richard Schmid, Bettina Steinke, Del Gish, and Sergei Bongart. He is called upon to jury shows, and is a popular and enthusiastic workshop teacher around the country and abroad. He was a consultant for Walt Disney Imagineering where he did wonderful concept work for Animal Kingdom, Tokyo Disney Sea, California, and other projects.
He is a signature member of The Plein Air Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, The California Art Club, The Northwest Watercolor Society, Northwest Pastel Society (Distinguished Pastelist), Northwest Rendezvous Society, Laguna Plein Air Painters, Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters, and the American Society of Marine Artists.
At the October 2025 Laguna Plein Air Exhibition he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions, his work and teaching in the the Art world.
He has exhibited his work in some of the finest shows and galleries in the country and has won numerous awards. He has been invited to participate in the Great American Artist Show, Artists of America Show, Plein Air Painters of America, Oil Painters of America, National Academy of Western Art, Knickerbocker Show, The Northwest Rendezvous Group, The California Art Club, The Salmagundi Club, Puget Sound Group of Northwest Artists, Pastel Society of America, American Society of Marine Artists, and the Autry Western Masters Show. Ned has had two exhibitions and put together two group exhibitions at the Frye Art Museum and gave a demonstration and workshop at the Seattle Art Museum. He continues to challenge and improve his work on location and in the studio.
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.
