Juror Tiffanie Mang
Juror Commendations
“ Turtle Cove” by Cheryl Dicus
I personally really like this one because it is simple and very effective. It caught my eye because of its boldness and almost monochromatic nature. I love the detailed way the turtles are rendered and the simplicity of the ocean in the background. It captures the mood of the deep ocean for me, and I really enjoyed it.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dicus.jpg)
“Friends Forever V” by Astrid Edel Walter
This piece stood out to me because I liked how simple it is. But on second glance, there is a lot of play of color and textures that are very well thought out. I love the cyans and yellows, and I like how the faces are arranged on the canvas. I love the little gleams of color. It is very pleasing when I look at it.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Walter.jpg)
“Breakfast Al Fresco?” by Gloria Henderson
The painting captured the mood of a vibrant summer day. It is a unique composition that almost leads you down into the viewpoint of going down the stairs. I love the colors too. I thought it is a really unique piece that stood out to me.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Henderson.jpg)
Honorable Mentions
“Screaming Eagle” by Mark Cohenour
This piece stood out to me because of the beautiful rendering of the motorcycle, I haven’t seen anything like it, so great job on that. I love contrasting texture of the background with the smooth metal of the foreground. You can zoom in on it and see it like a still life and get a sense of an abstract with the shapes and textures.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cohenour.jpg)
“The Mind’s Eye” Michael Garberick
This piece attracts me because it is surreal in a sense, it reminds me a little bit of Dali. It has a very clean execution. I love the way the butterfly invites you in. I love the composition as well, and I think it is especially well executed.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Garberick.jpg)
“Drink Cart” by Stephanie Van de Wetering
I love how clean this piece is. It is well organized, and has a really nice composition for a still life. The colors are really popping and vibrant, and it invites you in. It made me really happy when I looked at it.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Van-de-Wetering.jpg)
Honorable Mention, Miniatures
“Good and Plenty” by Cynthia Roach
I love way they use line and shape, and how they create lighting on the fruit. I love the diversion of light and dark shapes that is almost abstraction, but you still know what you are looking at. It has a good graphic sense of light and shadow. A great job with the design, a very unique painting.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Roach.jpg)
Best of Miniatures
“A Calm Moment” by Ann Slater
This painting has a beautiful sense of lost edges, and clean edges. You really get the dynamic feel of the swan emerging into the light. There is a very careful handling of the foliage and the background, which is really delicate and not overbearing. I just love the simple design, and it is well executed. It is pleasing and calming to look at.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/A-Slater.jpg)
Best of Theme
“Summer in Idaho” by Susanne Slater
I love this piece, because I feel like it is almost a soundscape on canvas. It has the different elements of texture and smoothness, the smaller notes vs the bigger notes, the masses of the trees. I still can feel the essence of the landscape, but I love how abstract it is at the same time. So, in terms of it replicating sound on canvas it was very successful. Beautiful piece!
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/S.-Slater.jpg)
Third Place
“Gage Grove” by Drew Bandish
He did a really good job rendering the feel of the light. I can sense the feeling of being in nature and of being isolated but also of being at peace. I really like the way he has created the grove light. Great job.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Bandish.jpg)
Second Place
“Tree Shadows” by Edward Abrams
The painting has a rendering of tree shadows that is really beautiful, you can literally feel the mood of the shadows casting onto the building. I have never seen shadows rendered like that, and I thought it was really moving. I just love the accuracy and the attention to detail in the building, Overall, it has a calming mood when I look at it that I really enjoyed.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Abrams.jpg)
First Place
“The Up and Down” by Mark Smith
I love the painting because there is a great styling and energy going on, with the cascading rhythm of the roof top and the stairs. It has nice clean shapes, and a playful mood. I love the way it is executed.
![](https://www.sdws.org/sdwsblog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Smith.jpg)