Top Awards
Best in Show
Susan Bradley
“Cowboys of Wickenburg”
The careful rendering of this piece tells a story, not only of the artist’s understanding of the subject matter, but of the medium used to portray them as well. Everything is in proportion, and the shapes within the composition touch and interact, leading one’s eye along the painting and back again. The longer horizontal layout of the composition adds to the overall feeling of seeing a typical day in a cowboys life.
Judges Choice
Enid Edelman Award
Mary Beth Orrange
“Lost My Marbles”
This is such a fun piece. Not only does one read the poster as a 2-D piece of paper, but you do a double-take at the 3-dimensional rendering of the marbles.
Robert Pufpaff
Award
Susan Bradley
“Cowboys of Wickenburg”
Bob would have loved the feeling of “family”, both human and equine in this piece. The expert knowledge of oils led to excellent representation of subject matter. WAS would like to thank Sharon Dzierba for the donation to continue this award.
Watercolor
First Place
Debbie Wixson
“Winter Peace”
This is a serene portrayal of trees by the water’s edge. The fine branches are a testament to careful brushwork, as is the carefully rendered, but not overpowering, reflection of the trees in the water.
SECOND PLACE
Deb Meier
“Last Pour”
This is a creative and unusual subject matter; it definitely tells a story, between the lady pouring wine as the main subject, replicated in the sketchbook on the table. Is she the artist? Was the wine before or after painting?
THIRD PLACE
Jean MacDonald
“A Merry Heart Doth Like a Good Medicine”
This tells a lovely story; obviously these are close friends, who are gaving a good laugh together. It leads me to believe that they have known each other for years. The application of paint is skillful and smooth, even in the flesh tones.
Honorable Mention
Sue Liddell
“Dont Get Cheeky with Me”
This is a wonderful rendition of “The Life of Birds”, not only showing their attitude, but marvelous textures in their plumage. You can almost hear their conversation, which has a bit of an edge to it.
Oils
FIRST PLACE
Michael Todd Taylor
“Judy’s Backyard”
This is a joyous piece that sings with color. It is a fine example for how important color play can speak louder than brushwork. One can breathe in the warm air of the back yard, but you keep circling back to visually enjoy the vitality of the flowers.
SECOND PLACE
Mary Schohn
“Let’s Picnic”
This is an idyllic summer scene, inviting the viewer along on a family picnic. The sunshine plays hide and seek as it shines down on the children, creating shapes between their forms and the dirt path.
THIRD PLACE
Carol Pijacki
“The Clothes Seller”
Don’t let the size of this piece fool you. It tells a story that makes one wonder about the items one might find in this outdoor market. The paint is carefully rendered, but not overdone, letting the viewer finish the story with their own eyes.
Honorable Mention
Darleen Pope
“All Curled Up Waiting for Christmas”
The purposeful abstraction in this piece mirrors the chaos of getting ready for the holiday. Meanwhile, here is a dog (the artist’s?) patiently curled up beneath the busy-ness of the season, making one believe that he is the calm amid the storm.
Acrylics
FIRST PLACE
Bill Tresp
“Wonders of Nature”
Not every artist can paint with acrylics, yet achieve the glow of oils. The warm light and lush greens frolic along with the bears in this evocative painting. It speaks volumes about the relationship between nature and the artist’s understanding of it.
SECOND PLACE
William McCullagh
“Joe – A Family Affair”
This tells a story, one that the artist must know intimately. The smooth brushwork gives the sense of high realism, while the use of light reminds us that it is a carefully rendered painting.
THIRD PLACE
Joanne Smith
“Vibrant Mosaic”
The crisp lines, shapes, and clean color speak volumes in this piece. Anyone who has ever tried to paint a straight line can appreciate the complexity and difficulty of this, as it takes skill to do with any method.
Honorable Mention
Anthony Cilano
“Apples on a Window Sill”
This is an excellent, rustic composition. The superb handling of the acrylic medium is not overdone, letting the rough sill compete in texture with the smooth apples.
Other
FIRST PLACE
Timothy Martlock
“The Presentation”
Hands can be extremely difficult to draw, yet here they are in perfect proportion. Children are also challenging to render, particularly infants. The artist did a wonderful job with both the skin tones for both, showing us the difference in age between the two subjects.
SECOND PLACE
Joan Mapes
“Emma”
Here is a pet portrait that is lovingly rendered in colored pencil. It is replete with lost and found edges, as well as a variety of furry textures. The artist knew just the right time to stop layering on color, leaving the viewer to fill in the story.
THIRD PLACE
Jeanne Gugino
“Swimming”
There is more to this image than meets the eye. Not only is the goldfish floating amidst waves from a gelli plate print, but his bubbles are a pattern created through collage. It is a great example of how artists can combine mediums and techniques to make a statement.
Honorable Mention
Paula Borkowski
“Sunlight on a Spiders Web”
This is an intriguing subject. Even before reading the title, one is invited to explore the tunnel of webbing, following the light to find out answers. What answers? That is up to the viewer!
