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

Our Juror - Nicole Caulfied

Still-life and portrait artist Nicole Caulfield's work is shown regularly in New England galleries and has been shown nationally and internationally in shows such as the Catharine Lorillard Show and Salmagundi Show in NYC, the Guild of Realism Show in Scottsdale Arizona, and the Portrait Society of America where she won third prize in 2008. Nicole teaches her unique colored pencil techniques nationally and locally near Keene, NH.


Artist's Statement:

I am drawn to realism and the subjects I render for many reasons, but I always come back to the beauty of the ordinary, and the challenge of the rendering. The beauty of ordinary objects lit perfectly sitting on a table, the light hitting a child's eyes so that sparkle comes through, the light bouncing around the inside of a box, these ordinary, yet spectacular moments, inspire me to create a piece of artwork. Then there is the challenge of creating the piece. I wish everyone who looked at my work could experience the joy I have in creating it: from the sweet anxiety of the very first pencil stroke, to the exciting point in which the image starts to become 3-D, and finally the bittersweet conclusion of that last stroke.

Juror Statement :

Judging art is a very personal experience. Every time you look at artwork, be it a painting or an illustration you are passing judgment on that artwork, and in some ways it is that casual, unanalyzed judgment I value most. 

Of course, it's hard to reconcile gut reactions with any single, predictable standard. Recently, I went with an artist friend to the National Gallery in DC. We both had some overlap with what we liked, but it was surprising to see what we disagreed on. She was drawn to more painterly and colorful work like Vincent Van Gogh while I was drawn to realistic minimalist pieces like The Repentant Magdalen by Georges de la Tour... and we both loved John Singer Sargent. I know that Van Gogh is one of the great painters, and she certainly realizes the excellence of de la Tour. But at this moment in our lives at this particular place certain paintings were primed to speak to us. And what a boring world it would be if the same paintings spoke to everyone.

In judging work of various skill levels, additional problems emerge. Certainly, the ability to analyze art, looking for obvious errors or delicacy of execution, noting a unique compositional balance in one work or an overworked cliche in another helps us better understand our taste, and over time to refine and expand the complexity of our reaction to art. It's a necessary process for all lovers of art. But those things we note in analysis only explain our reaction -- they don't produce it. For me, the analysis is always best when it is put in the context of an undeniable draw a work has on me -- it is the scientific analysis of my mind and body's reaction to a specific work. The aesthetic reaction is the undeniable fact, the science comes afterward.

Finally, on a personal note, I'd like to say that I'm always surprised when I am showing my own work which pieces are most popular. Often times I think the viewers are wrong in their judgment (I messed up her fingers, or the background came too forward) but maybe they see something in the work that I don't. If the artwork is beckoning the viewer to take a second look or creates in the viewer that overwhelming compulsion that it must hang on their wall (you know that feeling) then that artwork is very successful, no matter what technical feats it passed or failed. 

So in my judging today my favorites may not be your favorites, but be sure that every piece I chose beckoned me to come back for more.

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Winners:

Best of Show: Little Fae Princess by Kim Kinkaid

To me, the winner should be both, technically proficient and get its point across. I think Kim's piece did both these things. It tells a story but leaves the viewer with a bit of mystery. It evokes times past but its gentleness is completely here and now. Most importantly I can't see how the piece could be improved. The soft mistiness, the delicacy of the rendering, the cool lighting giving form to her face, and the minimalist composition sets the mood perfectly.

1st Place: Myrtle Beach Wave by Gretchen Parker

Gretchen's wave spoke to me on many levels. On a technical level, the perfectly executed reflected colors shine through the waves and the foam convincingly floats towards the viewer, bringing me right back to that last vacation and the smell of the sea air. On another level, Gretchen 's strong compositional skills pull the piece tightly together. The waves start out horizontal filling the page but then curve down allowing access to the breaking wave that is the focal point.

2nd Place: Puppy Dog Tails by Cheryl Metzger

Cheryl's piece is a great example of a well executed story. The deceivingly matched line of kids on the bench is a flurry of activity; each child giving a glimpse of their own personality.

3rd Place: Springtime by Dorothy De Paulo

This romantic piece is perfectly executed giving cues to other times. I especially like the cool colors backing the warm colors of the girl. The composition, which could have easily been too symmetrical, has been fixed by putting the girl off to the side gazing at something that is part of the hazy world behind her.

See more of Nicole Caulfield's work at her website: www.nicolecaulfield.com

Thank you for doing a splended job of jurying our show, Nicole.  I know it's a very difficult task!