Dear Milwaukee Sketch,We
are pleased to announce the opening of the Richeson75Online Still Life
and Floral 2014 Exhibit. Our Awards Juror, Ms. Elizabeth Robbins has
made her selections. She has sent the following Juror's Statement:
"There were so many great paintings and want to congratulate all of you for making the top 75.
As
a judge I first look at all the images as a thumbnail. If the images
have an interesting composition and reads well as a thumbnail then it
should read well as a large painting.
After I look at them as a
thumbnail, I look for harmony, variety of edges, a overall good handling
of the paint and emotion. If a painting draws me in and makes me keep
looking, then for me that ways heavily on my decision. "
The judge's comments about why she selected each precede the images. Thanks to Liz and congratulations to all the winners!
Juror's Honorable Mentions (2)
"Viewing
this as a thumbnail I was immediately drawn to it. Upon closer
examination I loved the paint quality about this one. Loved the harmony
of the reds with the warm greens. I'm not quite sure what the white
object at the top is (maybe a plate?) but I don't care. Love the touch
of soft blue greens and lavender in it. It verges on an abstract."
"Loved the painting quality. The lights are thick and juicy. Having a
collection of blue and white myself, I was taken with this painting.
Loved how the vase and the main yellow daisy are taken to a more
finished step while the other lowers are more abstract. If everything it
taken to a finished step then there is nothing left to the imagination.
"
3rd Place:
"Wonderful
color harmony. I loved how the chrysanthemums are definitely the focal
point. The little book and vase are subordinate to the flowers. There is
no confusing where to look in this painting. Wonderful edges."
2nd Place:
"Loved
this pastel. It's an ordinary subject matter but the way it's cropped
is very nice. I loved the temperature changes in this one. The warm
light with the cool shadows are wonderful. The one lost edge at the
upper left makes me come into the painting and want to keep following
the line to the two main petunias. Love how the focal point is resolved
while other petunias are just abstract shapes but you know they are
petunias.
As a flower lover, this pastel made me smile."
First Place:
"Wow,
Again, as a thumbnail I was immediately drawn to this painting. I have
to admit that the subject matter and even the name made me a bit
uncomfortable but for that reason I kept looking again and again. The
harmony in the painting is wonderful. Again, the background is less
resolved than the skull which makes the skull the important item in the
painting. The negative shapes caused by the cast shadows are very
interesting. I tune into negative shapes sometimes even more than
positive shapes and these were great."
