Dear Milwaukee Sketch,
We
are pleased to announce the opening of the Richeosn75 Online Animals,
Birds and Wildlife exhibit and the Award Winners. Our Awards Juror is
Mr. Andrew Denman who wrote the following Juror's Statement:
"I'm very honored to have had the opportunity to review work and assign
awards for Richeson 75 Animals, Birds, & Wildlife. There were many
fine entries, but the main qualities I looked for were a) originality b)
a sense of narrative c) anatomical accuracy d) technical proficiency
(eg: composition, color, and values). Most of the winning pieces are
fairly tightly rendered; please note that this does not reflect my
personal taste any more than the choice of winning subject matter, but
simply that I did not find any loosely painted entries that effectively
captured their subjects in a loose improvisational way...much though I
would have liked to. In a competition such as this, the majority of
entrants don't win a prize, and it takes courage for any artist to
submit his/her work for review. To them I offer this general note:
though there were many quality pieces to which I could not give awards,
the primary things missing from the majority of entries were a full
understanding of the anatomy of the subject, well-planned, interesting
or unexpected compositions, and a sense of poetry. I know this last
comment is a bit esoteric, but when I look at a good piece of art, I
want to feel the way I feel when reading a good poem, transported,
inspired, and intrigued to explore further the depths of the poem's
meaning. Good art, like poetry, demands to be revisited again and again.
On that note, I wish you all great success and joy in your artistic
pursuits."
Mr. Denman's remarks about each award winner precede the image for that award:
Best in Show
A beautiful composition, approached with economy and restraint both in palette and brushstroke. This
is a piece in which every element is necessary, and all of those
elements contribute to both visual cohesion and the gentle narrative.
First Place
A great illustration of field work in practice. This
piece not only hits the artistic requirements of a dynamic composition
and well integrated color usage, but it educates as well, capturing a
lesser explored subject matter with specificity and veracity of place
and action that only comes from first-hand experience.
Second Place
Another
piece with a strong sense of narrative. It is beautifully painted in
its detail, but more importantly communicates a strong sense of
atmosphere, time, and place that transports and captivates the viewer.
Third Place
An
unusual, holistic composition, that at first glance becomes
intriguingly flattened and abstract, but which on closer inspection does
communicate surprising depth and a brilliant sense of action.
Honor #1
A very elegant piece which, despite its crisp, graphic quality, still captures beautiful, gestural movement. The well-balanced composition has the gently orchestrated quality of a Japanese wood block print.
Honor #2
A
beguilingly simple portrait that owes its success to beautiful,
economical brushwork, a lively palette, and sensitive use of warm-cool
contrast. 
|
