Congratulations to Rosanna Gaddoni, whose work has been recognized in the PleinAir Salon art competition.
“I was very happy that Judge Ben Whiteside gave this wonderful recognition to ‘I See You’,” Rosanna said. “This work is very dear to me for many reasons, and it’s fantastic to know that it resonates with others as well. I had submitted this drawing in the competition before, so it’s especially rewarding to see it finally receive the category award.”
On the Realistic Drawing “I See You”
By Rosanna Gaddoni
My Inspiration
During one of my outings in the Dutch landscape, I encountered a group of cows grazing near the edge of a road. One of them, the subject of this drawing, immediately approached and held my gaze for a long moment. She tilted her head to the right and left, but her eyes remained fixed on me, as if to say, “I see you.”
I am fascinated by the unspoken language between humans and animals, by the silent dialogue that transcends words. I cherished our encounter, and back in my studio, I sought to bring it to life once more.
A Challenge
Working with charcoal in monochrome, my main challenge is achieving accurate values while capturing detail without overworking the drawing.
My Process
I based my drawing on a reference photo I took with my phone. I began with a simple sketch to establish the composition, then gradually built up the values through multiple layers of charcoal. To create soft transitions, I used large, soft brushes to blend certain areas. The final touches involved adding highlights and deepening the darkest areas to achieve the right contrast. Throughout the process, I worked with different types of charcoal, including compressed charcoal sticks and pencils, as well as willow and vine charcoal.
My Advice on Entering the PleinAir Salon
Go for it! Taking part in an important art competition offers many advantages for an artist. It’s great training for developing a critical eye toward our work and pushes us to create and present our very best. Regardless of the outcome, it’s always a valuable learning opportunity.
About the PleinAir Salon:
In the spirit of the French Salon created by the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the PleinAir Salon rewards artists with $50,000 in all cash prizes each year, and exposure of their work, with the winning painting featured on the cover of PleinAir magazine.
Winners in each monthly competition receive cash prizes, 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 15th Annual Awards will be presented live at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, where the winner will be presented with a $15,000 check!
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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