Our Juror - Jeff George
(winner of the Best of Show Award in the 6th Annual FMP Member Show)
After studying at the Otis/Parsons Art Institute and School of Design,
Southern Californian Jeff George has established a long distinguished career
as a professional illustrator. His work has appeared in numerous ads and
publications, garnering Jeff two gold medals from the Los Angeles Society of
Illustrators. A master of technique in both pen and ink and graphite, he
brings over 25 years of creative experience to the world of colored pencil.
His methodical and disciplined approach to the medium often produces a tangible realism. While trying to maintain a creative edge, Jeff frequently varies his subject matter, and occasionally introduces new techniques into his artistic repertoire.
In late 2002, Jeff discovered the Colored Pencil Society of America, and began to establish himself as one of the organizations top artists. In his 3+ years with the CPSA, his work has been juried into their International Exhibition, and once into their Explore This Exhibition. With his 2006 International Exhibition acceptance, he has earned the honor of CPSA Signature Status. His work has also been displayed in several art publications, as well as winning several local competitions.
You can view Jeff's colored pencil art and more at his website:
www.jeffgeorgeart.com
JUROR'S NOTES
What an honor it was to view one of the most personal aspects of an
individuals life: their art. The selections presented in FMP Member Show 7 were varied both in substance and style, displaying a wide array of talent. A testament to both the versatility and power of the colored pencil and its practitioners. The imagery presented ranged from bold to sublime, and from poignant to humorous. There was such an inordinate amount of beautiful, touching work that my own regret is that there simply weren't enough awards to provide each deserving piece. For those not chosen, please take comfort in the fact that this is only one
persons subjective opinion, and that another juror would choose an entirely different set of winners. Hopefully the following comments regarding the specific winning pieces will help to give insight as to the reasoning behind the final decisions. Thank you to all of the artists who submitted work. The offering of your creative vision is deeply appreciated.
All of the Honorable Mentions were compelling visions worthy of merit. In viewing the varied works, each of these artists seemed to have a particular strength which stood out.
. Childs: composition . Roi / Strok: color . Pineau / Richards:
overall balance . Gylling: technical skill . Cormier: mood .
Caulfield: texture . Seyboth / Jahan: creativity
Each of the Award Winners provided a high degree of the criteria listed above to produce wondrous, rich imagery.
4th Place: "Not Begging. Much." by Katherine Ellis presents an intimate, bold composition filled with emotion. (Who could deny that face?)
3rd Place: "Train Spotting" by Kat Tatz combines a well rendered portrait with intriguing imagery, all placed in a unique composition.
2nd Place: Alyona
Nickelsen's "Curve Appeal", displays technical perfection to the highest degree. It's filled with luscious colors and textures. Wonderful.
1st Place: Susan Moyer's "Yunnan Dawn", works well on so many levels. Nicely depicted, it is filled with several natural elements such as water, sky, and mountains. Man made objects such as the boats and traps, and even the addition of a figure. Add to this, dramatic backlighting for mood and a composition which seems to place the viewer within the scene, and you have a terrific work of art. Kudos to Susan for producing such an ambitious piece.
Best of Show: I find that many artists seem to give secondary attention to background elements. They tire at the thought of providing the same level of draughtsmanship to their backgrounds as they would to their primary subject. "Carnival Glass" by Ranjini Venkatachari is a perfect example of a well thought out work with complete attention given to every inch of its surface. It dazzles with its colorful and magnificently produced background. It provides great visual interest without overpowering its main subject: the well depicted carnival glass. The piece also brims with drama, style, and story. An excellent display of Ranjini's mastery of the colored pencil medium.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to view your wonderful and inspiring creations. Best of luck to all in your future artistic endeavors.
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