PRIZEWINNERS

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2010 open wintER EXHIBITION

Judge: David Beschi, watercolourist.

Judge David Beschi awarding the prizes with wit and flair to the amusement of BAS President Pat Skenridge

Winner of First Prize:
Pamela Hourani

Click on images below for larger view

First Prize: two figures with red cloth
Artist: Pamela Hourani
Medium: Charcoal, pastel on paper

Judge's comments:
A stunning work, never romantic, never alluring, never definable, but they stand beautifully. Notice the body weight on the bottom left foot, notice the together but not, notice the almost embrace. This is more than ‘Two figures with red cloth". It is intriguing, imaginative and more, dare I say it? Yes I will - masterly. Thank you for showing it.

Second Prize: heat haze shipley
Artist: Kathryn Uther
Medium: Oil on canvas

Judge's comments:
This is such a powerful painting, it screams ‘look at me’ so all, please do so. Look and look again and you will find ‘art’, real ‘art’.

Highly Commended: sanctuary
Artist: Di Clark
Medium: Pastel

Judge's comments:
The subject matter almost too cute let’s say, but the hand of the artist has made it work so well with the freedom that surrounds the subject. Great pallette on black.

Highly Commended: stormy sea
Artist: Chris Holland
Medium: Oil

Judge's comments:
Stand out painting this, bright, fresh, looks like the painter enjoyed it so much, the painting nearly painted itself. But no, expertise was in the hand, the dashes of colour, brilliant, the movement, the contrast between sea and sky all works so well.

Highly Commended: the gully II, shipley
Artist: Leonie Lyall
Medium: Oil

Judge's comments:
An extremely well executed painting. This simple landscape has been turned into a real gem. The balance of the colours is superb, the composition great. The painting stands alone as a classical work.

Highly Commended: just ask alice
Artist: Jane Stapleford
Medium: Watercolour

Judge's comments:
The amazing detail in this work is nothing more than brilliant. The subject matter placed beautifully. This painting creates an aura of its own, which it magical.

Commended: islands
Artist: Jean Cave
Medium: Thread

Judge's comments:
This is a charming piece at first sight. Look closer and you will find the colours, the composition and the execution is superb thought out. It all works so well, a real artwork. My only other thought is it should have had a massive frame. Spend the money, get it done. It’s begging you to.

Commended: kettle and friends
Artist: Jo Clark
Medium: Watercolour

Judge's comments:
Very brave with the use of colour, the placement of objects make this a fine composition, the painting jumps out at you to say ‘look at me’.

Commended: the deception
Artist: Pamela Hourani
Medium: Mixed media

Judge's comments:
A stunning piece: the figure has weight, the pallette is limited, painted with freedom, a lot going on and I suspect painted as it developed in the artist mind. Quite superb. Please all look again and study this painting.

Commended: rocks, centennial glen
Artist: Ross Manwaring
Medium: Watercolour

Judge's comments:
A beautiful, calm painting, although a very strong subject. Tree line marks were placed at random I suspect, which is great. Makes it a real painting with freedom. The foreground is wonderfully described by being never carried too far in detail. It all works so well.

Commended: monmartre meringues
Artist: Sharon Varley
Medium: Acrylic + ink

Judge's comments:
Bash! bash! bash! I’m almost certain when this colour was put down at first it was terrifying, however look how it has worked. Manipulated very cleverly by the artist. Background busy but subtle, beautiful foil for the magic Meringues.

Commended: collected works
Artist: Catherine Watkins
Medium: Etching

Judge's comments:
What an interesting work. The composition, the balance, the perspective, the music stand to give it depth and the use of colour excellent. A small piece with giant clout. Divine!

People's Choice: drizzle + drab
Artist: Sherrie Ehrlich
Mediuim: Watercolour