Winners 2015 Brush with the Wind: WIPAPA's Annual Juried Show

Congratulations to the award winners for the 2015 Annual Juried Show: Brush with the Wind! The work can be seen and purchased at the Arts Mill in Grafton Wisconsin till Sept 26th!!

Thanks also to our jurors: Anthony Sell and Jenny Anderson! I have included their thoughtful comments for each award.

1st Place / Best in Show

“Late Light” by Carolyn Larkin

Jenny and I both agreed that this painting had

a very compelling composition and value

structure, and that the brushwork and handling

as well as the color choice were aptly suited to

the subject matter. For a small painting, it

grabbed my attention from across the room.

While not a deciding factor, I will also point

out that the choice of a wide black frame with

a thin gold lip greatly compliments the gold

and purple hues in the painting.

- Anthony

After being compositionally drawn into this

painting, I was fascinated with the brushwork

and the color. The unforced interpretation of

the landscape coupled with deliberate

confidence of the medium made this piece

unforgettable.

- Jenny

 2nd Place

“A Good Days Work”

Sherri Thomas

This painting had both a sense of movement

and a sense of time, partly due to the manner

in which the glow of light was captured. It

also has a very strong focal point, using the

pattern and texture of the field, the

atmospheric perspective in the background,

and the contre jour lighting.

- Anthony

This painting radiates the elegance of the

landscape. The subtle changes of value and

color translates into a sense of calm and

beauty.

- Jenny

3rd Place

“Monarchs & Milkweed”

Wendie Thompson

The first element of this painting to capture

my eye was the color. As I got closer, I was

compelled by how the abstract foreground

resolves into a convincing depth of field in the

structures in the background.

- Anthony

The color harmonies of this painting draw you

in. It is quite abstract, yet intentional. The

feeling of place is unmistakable. The brave

and bold orange stroke of the flying monarch

in the sky gives the viewer an unexpected

bonus.

- Jenny

Honorable Mention

“Standing Still”

Pamela Ruschman

The square composition was interesting, the

brushwork deliberate and sensitive to the

form, with a good variety of textures and

interesting surface texture. The subtleties of

her color choices are also more apparent the

closer you get.

- Anthony

The juxtaposition of warm and cool of this

piece, gives the painting a feeling of comfort

even though the subject matter and the

weather are bleak. The skill shown through

composition and paint handling makes this a

very strong piece.

- Jenny

Honorable Mention

“Bikes”

Kriste Sankey

I thought that this painting had a strong formal

concept, using the repeating shapes of the

wheels, the lights, the shapes in each of the

motorcycles, for an unusual composition that

stood out among the other paintings.

- Anthony

The free brushwork added to the spirit of the

subject matter of the painting. Paintings

sometimes evoke emotions, but with this

painting I could hear the bikes.

- Jenny