21st Annual COLOR Magazine Member Show-2

Juror's Statement:

Ann’s Member Show brings out the best of the best each year, and I knew it would be a difficult task to judge such extraordinary talent. So I did a few things to prepare. Before I even saw the entries, I asked my webmaster Mandie to digitally remove all artist signatures and send me a slideshow. This would help me be as objective as possible. When I then viewed that slideshow, I sat far back in my chair looking for those pieces that immediately impacted me. There were sooo many fabulous artworks, but I had to limit my choices and the winners have been named. Congratulations to all who entered and to those who have been selected! And thank you, Ann, for the honor of judging your exceptional Member Show this year.

Best of Show

“Living In An Alternate Reality” – Bonnie Sheckter. Bonnie’s expert mastery of a variety of textures along with her color choices and attention to detail impacted me from the moment I saw this portrait. Her subject’s expression and warm skin tones juxtaposed with the cool clothing palette are eye catching. The brick background with its various chips and markings lends context to this piece, and the title is very relevant to the current international situation. Bonnie’s technical skills, thematic choice, and time investment have resulted in a spectacular masterpiece. Bravo!

Hobbyist

First Place: “Dogs in Clover” – Sarah Binns. Sarah did an awesome job creating a peaceful, serene portrait of these Labradors. The texture contrasts with the sleek fur and softly diffused foreground and background are masterful, and it was easy to imagine myself in that summer field with the dogs. Very impressive piece!

Second Place: “Pick A Pepper” – Nancy Harbaugh. The bright, vibrant, and glorious colors really wowed me, and Nancy did a beautiful job rendering the sleek and pitted textures here. The simple composition with brilliant hues is quite impactful.

Third Place: “Campfire” – Diane Masek-Blow. Diane’s loose and colorful interpretation of the flames delighted me. She incorporated abstract with realistic textures into this artwork, and the end result is a visual treat.

Honorable Mention: “Brooklyn Bridge” – Bob Hubenet
Honorable Mention: “Bubble Daze” – Jennifer Bateson
Honorable Mention: “Baltimore Orioles” – Todd Hatchett
Honorable Mention: “Olive-backed Sunbird” – Shardul Singh

Advanced

First Place: “I See” – Giddy Richt. Giddy’s clever concept and gorgeous rendering of this young girl really impressed me. She did a wonderful job drawing the viewer into this tender scene and then leading us out of it with softly blurred edges into a dramatically dark background. Simply fabulous!

Second Place: “Unique” – Allison Doatch. Allison’s flower detail is exceptional! She expertly conveyed crisply defined textures against softly blurred ones and caused me to marvel at her skill. Allison’s color palette and value spectrum were well considered and resulted in a stunning floral portrait.

Third Place: “The Apples of My Eyes” – Alma Cartaya. This piece sizzles with vibrant colors and shiny textures. Alma did a beautiful job rendering bright highlights and deep shadows in this eye-catching piece with perfectly formed reflections.

Honorable Mention: “Citrus and Pewter” – Carolyn Comras
Honorable Mention: “The Guardian” – Carla Rene
Honorable Mention: “The Berghoff” – John Guiseppi
Honorable Mention: “In His Hands” – Lorri Dixon


Professional

First Place: “Renaissance Man” – Silvia D’Almeida. I found myself smiling back at this beautifully rendered man. Silvia did an amazing job with every aspect of the portrait, and I love the warmth she conveyed along with the variety of exquisite textures. Just gorgeous!

Second Place: “Undercurrents” – Jesse Lane. This is not only a brilliant concept for an artwork, but its detail across 39 inches of surface is beyond impressive! Jesse’s visual framing, realism, and artistic skills are exceptional.

Third Place: “Karajini” – Kevin Rogers. The glorious colors of this landscape are a feast for the eyes! Kevin is skilled at leading the viewer from front to back down this moving stream and showcasing lovely colors and textures along the way.

Honorable Mention: “Disguised” – Maria Villioti
Honorable Mention: “Hurry up, Nana, I’m ready…” – Susan Murray
Honorable Mention: “Resisting a Rest” – Kathryn Hansen
Honorable Mention: “The Dance of the Leaves” – Paco Martin

About The Juror: Cynthia Knox