...Gardens of Art...
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| 2013 Peoples Choice winner, DeFries Gardens 4th Annual Juried Art Show |
So this year I decided to enter the DeFries Gardens Annual Juried Art Show again.
My submissions were 'Jungle Kitty' and a painting I recently completed, titled 'Glisten'.
I was pretty certain i did not place for an award this year. Last year I received an email ahead of time letting me know I won however this year I did not get 'that' email.
So I went to the show feeling reserved but excited to see the wonderful art there.
I milled about looking at some very stunning works that didn't place and some works that felt felt should not have placed, but that's the nature of a juried show. You don't always agree with or understand what the judges 'saw'.
I felt some things were more worthy of awards than others purely by the thought, message and caliber of the technical ability that was put into them.
There were a couple one artists whose paintings kept drawing me back.
This gentleman's painting I thought was fantastic!!
His name is Keith Blanton and he is a local guy that I was unaware of. We had the chance to meet up and chat after the show and congratulate each other. I let him know I thought his work was just fantastic, especially this market painting.
Eye for detail is what draws me to a painting. When someone takes the time to go to such lengths, that hows fortitude, patience and a love for your work. Couple that with knowledge of structure, use of color and proper value...it ends with a stunning work of art and his work certainly met all those. It was a joy to look at and brought a smile to my face.
Another work that I thought was just phenomenal was this one...its difficult to see since it was a water color under glass so photographing it was difficult.
This was done by an artist named Jan Lucking. It was a visually striking water color of a pair of old work boots, a pair of baby's feet, two wedding bands, a mouse trap hanging off the boot lace, a torn photo of an old photo of a young girl and a cob web with dew drops. THIS painting told a life story. It was full of symbolism of the cycle of life, the ups and downs and to me, THAT made for a spectacular composition and it was extremely well executed!!
I felt this painting should have placed for an award but it did not. It dumbfounded me.
Now here is a painting that took the first place award. This is an oil. I was again dumbfounded by this choice because I felt the caliber of the work that was at the show, superseded this painting but I am not one of the judges. They like what they like.
While this painting is nicely done in a loose palette knife technique, I just felt it was flat and not as technically challenging as the two previous works I have just shown.
Again, that's just my opinion and the only opinions that matter are those of the selected judges for the show.
All in all, there was a phenominal array of work there and it goes to show that no matter where you live, art and artists are everywhere!
Here in the heart of the Midwest, it makes me happy to realize that fact!
So getting back to my painting 'Jungle Kitty'...
Imagine my surprise when I heard my name called for the last prize...
'The Peoples Choice Award'!!
I was SHOCKED!!! I was standing clear towards the back of the garden because I knew I had won nothing...until I heard my name!
To me, at a show like this...thats the BEST prize you can get because the jury are the patrons that went to the show. They choose what they like. Your public is the BEST JURY there is!
I am humbled, surprised and quite happy about the outcome of the show! :)
Oh but I can't forget to show you my second submission I had in the show. I titled this piece
'Glisten' and it is an acrylic painting of one of the flowers in my garden.
I was told that this was the runner up in the Peoples Choice Award category so that as well made me quite happy! This painting and 'Jungle Kitty' will soon be headed to the gallery I submit my work to, the Kingsbury House Gallery in Howe, Indiana.
The gallery is housed in a beautifully restored turn of the century hotel in the heart of a quaint Midwestern town. In the summertime there is a Saturday morning bustling true farmers market directly across the street in the town square. If you get a chance, and would love to have a fantastic tour of the wonderful Amish countryside...travel to Howe Indiana for a stop at the gallery and an enjoyable ride. Linda chase, gallery director, has created a lovely, lovely space for us local artists.
I am very pleased to be a contributing artist for this gallery!
Well that's about enough prattling about all things art today.... time to jump in the shower and begin the Fathers Day Festivities!
Happy Fathers day to all you fathers! Have a WONDERFUL DAY!
Kath
