Congratulations to the NFWS Members whose paintings have been selected to win awards in our Fall 2021 Members Exhibition of Transparent Watercolor. Our judge Eileen Sudzina‘s judge’s statement and individual comments are shared below. The award winners can now be seen at the Kenan Center House Gallery, 433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY. The Exhibition can be viewed at the Kenan Center from October 17 until November 14, 2021. It’s a beautiful show, nicely hung. Thank you to Martha Rogala and Janet Ide co-chairpersons of the NFWS Exhibition Committee, and to the staff at the Kenan Center.
Again, congratulations to all artists who submitted their paintings. Keep painting and stay safe!
Juror’s Statement:
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to jury the NFWS Fall 2021 Member Exhibition. You know that all of us jury a show every time we look at one, and especially if we have a painting entered. It never ceases to amaze me, how we all see the winners in our minds differently. It goes along with how we paint so differently as artists, even if we are all painting the same thing. We are all unique creators of the one infinite universe.
Personally, I am influenced by an artist who demonstrates good design, strong composition(s), strong values, and a pleasing palette. I really appreciate an artist who, I can sense by their technique, is confident, happy, free, loose, and expresses the idea successfully. I know the work and struggle they put in to get there. That being said, there might be a painting or two that stand out as the best of the bunch, but I still feel as artists we are all evolving and the pieces we enter are the best for us at this stage. I am sad that the jurying process does not somehow allow this to be known and incorporated.
Right off the bat, I picked my favorites, which was more than half of them. And it is kind of like the TV show “The Voice” where both singers battling were great, but the judge has to pick one to go on and it just doesn’t seem fair. There are more songs to sing and more paintings to be painted and competitions to enter. Even though I picked the number of awards asked of me, know that I love them all for their expression and creation. Keep at it to find your style, your inner energy, and stay connected with that thing inside you that draws you to paint in the first place. Congratulations to all the NFWS painters.
Eileen Sudzina
(This exhibit is honestly 60% better to see in person than on-line. A must to see!)
THE AWARD WINNERS
First Place Award to Catherine O’Neill for “Happy Ending”
Judge’s Comment: Stunning piece. I love the back light in it, yet enough features to identify all these folks. That center of interest just pops. Wow! You can almost hear the chatter of conversation. Very nicely executed and composed. Love how the figure forms sit among a larger 2/3 of the paper, dark with intricate interesting shapes and silhouettes. Well designed and painted. This artist’s other piece in the exhibit is equally nice too.
Second Place Award to Kenneth Faust for “By the Light of the Window”
Judge’s Comment: Nice composition and strong values with light that I love. The form is nicely textured and just enough pattern against the soft back drop. Not sure what the black worm on her lap is but I am ok with it being there. Also love the way the polka dots draw your eye right into the face with more suggestion of dots through to the yellow sleeves on the right. I love a piece that has strong design. Sets a nice mood.
Third Place Award to Leslie Calmieri for “Yellow Leaves”
Judge’s Commentary: So lovely. Great value, colors and design. Very relaxing to look at. I would have varied the background blue a bit, but it is calming for the busy leaves. Simple but complex, overall it draws one in and has all the little marks to keep one interested. It’s a triangle which is a good composition to use for simple objects.
Honorable Mention Award to Brenda Cretney for “Bliss”
Judge’s Commentary: Great composition. Love it. The folds of cat repeat in the folds of blanket. Painted nicely. Most artists would leave background solid and not designed. Such a good background.
Honorable Mention Award to Sally Treanor for “What Seed Is This?”
Judge’s Comment: Nice overall pattern with soft lighting. Good values and interesting details. I love the overall color scheme. This piece keeps the eye moving all over to see it all. This is a star of negative painting, which most people can’t do.
Board of Directors’ Award to Barbara Billittier for “Break Through”
Judge’s Comment: Very strong cloud forms pointing and pushing down on lower form and center of interest. Then the tiny strip of water is nice. A strong composition. It is not overworked at all and the artist layed the color down creating interest in lots of space. This piece is so strong yet so simple – looks easy to do but is not. Cool palette yet warm at the sky sea point of interest. This piece is so strong!
Margaret M. Martin Award to Carol Case Siracuse for “Bright Corner”
Judge’s Comment: This piece reflects Margaret Martin’s energy of “Charge the Color in there” also showing architecture which Margaret loved to paint. I own a Margaret Martin painting and attended her workshop in Buffalo many years ago with many flowers in vases. This piece is strong in verticals with light moving the eye around. Nice and interesting negative and positive shapes. This piece is technically executed and I think Margaret would love this one too.
Judge’s Choice Award to Mike Killelea for “Saw Mill”
Judge’s Comment: This piece gives a calm feeling. A composition of verticals and diagonal shadows driving the eye all over the scene and keep the viewer interested. A yellow horizontal band pulls the eye into the building. I love the free loose painting technique with the only hard edges on the building. A simple palette with neutrals pushing the warmth out.
Judge’s Choice Award to E. Jane Stoddard for “Scajaquada”
Judge’s Comment: Good composition with verticals and angle. I like the large forms against all the small rope forms repeating all over. Color is very natural. I love this piece.
Judge’s Choice Award to Kathy Armstrong for ” Peaches for Baking”
Judge’s Comment: Love the large different sized vibrant circles in front with tiny repeated circles in the reflection. The two pot tops, one straight and one curved, form a nice backdrop to keep the eye up front. There is a large triangle composition which is strong and pleasing for this piece. The angles of table lead up into peaches as do the reflections in the pots.
Judge’s Choice Award to Sharon Bartell for “Autumn Archway”
Judge’s Comment: Delicate, vibrant touches of paint in a large strong donut shape with road leading us in. Very nice. I love it.
Judge’s Choice Award toDiane Gianadda for “Niagara Gorge”
Judge’s Comment: Awesome piece with strong cross composition. Large, medium, and small forms of both rounded shapes and straight shapes. Great neutrals showing off warmth. Nice movement and so nicely designed.
