Members Virtual Competition

Judging was carried out by  Rex Redd from  Oak Ridge Art Centre

"These were all excellent candidates and shows the value of an organization such as your artists guild in building working relationships among creatives. There wasn't a piece in here that wouldn't show on our gallery walls. Congratulations to everyone who entered for putting yourselves out there!"

A very big thank you to Rex!

First Place Aurora Bull . "Conversation"

This is a splendid entry that hits all the basics, and a few more elaborate qualities of a great painting. The hard surfaces such as on the tractor look hard; smooth, crisp sheens with well placed highlights, sharp transitions from forward surfaces to shadowed recesses, and clean, solid brushwork that gives it visual weight. The soft surfaces are exactly the opposite. Delicate folds in the fabric, airy whisps in the grass and trees and purposeful blending in the distance and shadows makes the scene very familiar and relatable to the viewer's personal experiences. Most importantly, the stare of the young subject adds a third dimension to the painting. His eye-contact creates a measurable depth from the subject to the viewer. We are no longer peeping-toms looking into a private conversation, but have now been engaged, and within contact range, of the subject. Instead of viewing from a distance, we have now been drawn in to a very personal and shrinking space. As a viewer you are now engaged and almost feel obligated to respond to his interaction. Without the eye contact, it's a beautiful painting. With the eye-contact, the viewer is now a participant in the painting.

2nd Place- Sherrie Wilson "Untitled"

This painting is exquisite in composition, execution, and viewer engagement. There is a nice reference to an ethnic persuasion without relying on in-your-face trademarks that would pigeonhole the subject as a (fill in the blank). The well constructed layers of cloth indicate a form of dress that is airy enough to be a common wardrobe year-round for this person. The lack of specific patterns or obvious color pallet underscore the mystery behind her origins. Very nice use of non flesh tone colors in the face to give a feeling of reflected light off of the garments. As a side note, and I do not know if this is intentional or not, but the eye makeup on the right eye creates an interesting phenomenon with her appearance. If you cover half of her face, she gains or loses 10 years depending on what side you are looking at. The viewer's right with that simple eye treatment takes her from innocent youth on the left to "ready to conquer the world" womanhood on the right. Great portrait.

3rd Place- Marian Tant, "Peaceful Time"

This painting succeeds in its pure simplicity. The subtleness of texture throughout leads to an almost dream state, where one might find themselves on a glorious day such as this. The cloud work is textbook- not puffy cotton balls but airy forms being shredded on the edges by upper atmosphere winds. It's a perfect day that is being slightly threatened by the darkening lower edges of the sky. Often when you see an impressionistic landscape you see the trademark process of the painting first and foremost. In this one we are immediately immersed in an almost featureless surrounding, filling in the details with our minds and memories before we take notice of the painting style itself. It's a nice trait when someone's first response to a painting isn't to identify the style, but the imagery of the artist's vision.

All the Entries! 

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