Artist's names in red link to artist's websites.

Our Juror - Ester Roi

Ester was born and raised in Italy; she has lived in SouthernCalifornia since 1978. Ester is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, the Southern California Artists Association of Laguna Beach and the San Clemente Art Association.

Ester’s art has been exhibited widely and has received numerous awards, including the “Award for Excellence” at the 16th Annual International Exhibition of the Colored Pencil Society and 1st Place in the 2007 Artist's Magazine's All-Media Online Competition.

Turning her creative attention beyond fine art, Ester invented the Icarus Drawing Board™ (patent pending), a portable, electric drawing board for wax-based media. She travels to organizations around the country to demonstrate her invention to other artists.

Colored Pencil Secrets for Success Ann Kullberg	Colored Pencil Painting Bible Alyona Nickelsen

Her artwork and the Icarus technique have been featured in numerous magazines and books including "Colored Pencil Secrets for Success" by Ann Kullberg and "Colored Pencil Painting Bible" by Alyona Nickelsen.

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Juror Statement :

It was a joy and an honor to review your artwork and to partake inthis intimate,bountifulexchange of creativity, vision, skills, and courage. When I took my first glace at the show,I momentarily let my gut reaction and personal taste take over. I have to admit, some work stood out from the crowd but it’simportant to remember that this show is open to colored pencil artists of all levels. To the beginners especially, I would like to say how I admire your bravery in revealing yourself through your art. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for comparing your skills and your growth in a safe and friendly environment. Remember that in art, as in all other arenas, determination and hard work will take you far. To all of you, from beginner to accomplished artists, I would like to express my appreciation for submitting your work to one person’s opinion.  I encourage you to pursue your dreams and wish you the best in your artistic aspirations.

In an effort to be as objective as possible, I decided to score each individual piece in four different categories of equal value:

• elements of art (color, value, line, shape, form, texture)
• composition (organization of these elements)
• content (mood, meaning, originality, statement)
• craftsmanship (mastery of the medium and technique)

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All the Honorable Mention winners received a high score in at least one of the above categories:

Third Place: “Luminescence” by Cindy Dooley
Dynamic composition with skillfully rendered details and textures.

Second Place: “Eric’s Legacy” by Helen Bailey
This powerful close-up grabbed my attention immediately - I could almost feel his breath upon my cheek– but his gazing eyes are telling a story that still has me wonder. I especially liked the contrast between the archetype of the ferocious tiger and the softness of his kind eyes.    

First Place: “Opulence” by Juno Kughler
This is a breathtaking example of excellence in all levels, from the dynamic composition to the superior rendering of intricate patterns and textures. The richness and complexity of these fabrics is juxtaposed by the unblemished skin of the model. In order to create such visual “opulence” one must posses the highest of skills, and in this regard, Juno is a Master Artist.   

Best of Show: “Zen” by Nicole Caulfield
When I look at Nicole’s piece, time stands still. As I take a long, deep breath I inhale the classical beauty of its composition permeated with contemporary, symbolic meaning. The strong triangular shapes of the figure are balanced by the large rectangular foreground. The stark contrast in values is harmonized by the delicate changes in color temperature and the limited palette. Nothing is out of place and everything is artistically and symbolically significant. This is an example where art has transcended its medium, technique and material.  Congratulations, Nicole, for your outstanding and timeless work of art.