Julie Anderson, Juror
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Juror Commendations
“The Judge” by Jane Fletcher
This painting attracted me very much because of its simplicity and its boldness. There are 2 large interesting shapes, the white background and the judge’s robe which attract the viewer from afar. The face is well rendered in a yellowish warm tone, the hair is grayish, and the eyes are very penetrating because they are very dark, with some indications of white, which draws your eye to them. It draws your eye to it. The white of the judge’s collar around the right side of his face also helps draw you to the face. It makes me wonder what the judge is like – what his story is.
“Inner Peace” by Cynthis Sue Kelly
This painting has a wonderful story element to it. What is the significance of the large bird and its connection to the woman? The painting technique is superb with the picture elements are beautifully rendered. The composition is interesting with a wonderful flow of feathers through the painting. The colors are a pleasing combination of the complements yellow and blue with good value variation.
“Solo Tent and the Coming Storm” by James Wegter
This is a very dynamic landscape. The story is so well depicted in the varied values of blue, gray and black which produce a looming mountain, a storm filled sky and a threat of what is about to happen. The technique is super with interesting brushstrokes that move around to provide texture to the mountain. I like the white snow and bending crevice that direct us to a small yellow tent which will provide shelter from what is coming.
Honorable Mentions
“Pushing Up” by Jean Silva
This interesting abstract painting consists of a beautiful combination of unusual colors and wonderful textures. Its composition consists of 3 horizontal bands of various widths which depict the different areas in which the flowering plants exist. The artist uses varied line work to represent roots and fine lines to help define the flowers. There are interesting white spots that create interest near the flowers. The viewer’s eye is carried through the composition side to side with the bands and up and down with roots and flowers.
“Peeking Glow” by Donna Arnaudoff
This painting is a wonderful landscape which is done abstractly. The color scheme is unusual, consisting of mainly orange and brownish water and foliage with just a little touch of blue in the water and sky. The technique is wonderful with delicate line work and dark and light areas representing the plants and trees. Small touches of white provide beautiful accents. It captures the story of a peaceful place I would like to visit.
“Modern Gothic” by Roberta Dyer
This painting has so many positives. There is a wonderful full range of values and an interesting composition with many interesting shapes and very expressive line work in the two figures. The figures have a story that I would like to know. Their faces are so expressive that I wonder what they are thinking or trying to tell us, and they are rendered in an abstract way. The line work is exquisite, and the expressions are wonderful.
Honorable Mention, Miniatures
“Mountain Shadows” by Carol Mansfield
This painting has wonderful textures and beautiful shapes, with lines moving throughout the picture. The color palette, with the analogous greens and blues and yellow greens, is wonderful. It has great light shapes, great dark shapes, great medium shapes, and so much movement going on that is spectacular.
Best of Miniatures
“Morley Field” by Thomas Franco
This painting has a wonderful composition, using great verticals and great horizontals. The movement of light and dark through it is terrific. The tree trunks, foliage, logs on the ground, and shadows create beautiful shapes. And the color scheme is subtle, beautiful, and very unique.
Best of Theme
“Indian Warrior” by Edwin Tuazon
This painting has a wonderful composition and a suggestion of a wonderful story, which speaks to the theme “Everybody Tells a Story”. Why is he sitting on a rock at the edge of the water playing a recorder? The composition is interesting, and the neutral colors of the water, rocks, and foliage set off the figure painted in warm, bright and dark, and light colors. It is a really expressive painting done with excellent watercolor technique.
Third Place
“America’s Shipyard” by Michael Garberick
This painting captured my attention because of its story. There is a shipyard, and there’s a crane, and there are some ghost-like figures up at the top who look like they are from a bygone time. They’re not wearing a current type of clothing, which leads me to wonder, what is the story he is trying to relate in this painting with those figures? The painting technique is superb with so many details accurately rendered. There is a good range of values from white all the way to black, and beautiful pure colors.
Second Place
“Quiet Corner” by Catherine Alvarez-Smith
This painting caught my eye from across the room. It has bright clear color and a full range of values from black to white. It has a good composition with lights and darks moving the eye through the painting. The technique is good with an interesting treatment of the foliage, color variation on the wall and sky, and fine lines on the ground.
First Place
“Strutting Our Stuff” by Helen Hayes
This painting really tells a story, and I want to know what it is. The painting attracts attention from across the room because of the value contrast and unusual composition. The strong vertical whites are an interesting addition to the composition and help move the eye from top to bottom. The technique is superb with stylized figures in interesting dress and a dog. The stamping in the background and on the clothing provides additional interest. The small red shapes that help move the viewer’s eye around are a great addition.
This painting really tells a story, and I want to know what it is. The painting attracts attention from across the room because of the value contrast and unusual composition. The strong vertical whites are an interesting addition to the composition and help move the eye from top to bottom. The technique is superb with stylized figures in interesting dress and a dog. The stamping in the background and on the clothing provides additional interest. The small red shapes that help move the viewer’s eye around are a great addition.