2023 Spring Digital Show Award Winners

First Place – Spring Snaps by Anne Hightower Patterson
- Second Place – Heart Throb by Maura Kenny
- Third Place – The Gin House by Susan Trott
- Honorable Mention – Glistening Octopuses by Suzanne Accetta
About the Juror, Chris Leeper
Juror’s Statement
First, I would like to say how honored I am to be asked to jury the awards for this exhibition. I do not take this duty lightly. I have been on the other side many times. There were many deserving paintings. I looked at each painting again and again. Eventually, certain paintings seemed to really stand out and those are the award winners.
Whenever I begin jurying a show, I have great anxiety. Seeing all the paintings produces doubts. How can I visually consume so many paintings? How can I find the award winners? Eventually, a consensus begins to build. Certain paintings instantly relate, and others are harder to penetrate and take more time. Why do some paintings jump out right and others fade? For me it is a combination of things. The formal art elements are considered first, i.e., design, value, and color. Other considerations are technical skills, use of the media, the artist’s vision, and personal style. The actual subject of the painting is not really that important. A great painting can be any subject. It really comes down to what the artist did with the subject.
Jurying is completely subjective. My choices are opinions. Another juror might pick different awards. Understanding this should give comfort to those not winning an award. I encourage all the artists to continue to paint. However, do not paint for juried shows. Paint for yourself. Continue to educate yourself and strive to improve and make interesting and personal statements. If you get in a show and/or win an award, consider it a bonus for a job well done.
Juror’s Reflection on Selected Pieces
Spring Snaps This painting excels on so many levels. It is a highly competent treatment of a difficult and complex subject. The key is that the complexity does not overwhelm the design. The artist has made great decisions about value, color, and shape so that the overall design is very strong. Everything works together without sacrificing the specifics and this makes for a powerful painting.
Heart Throb When I am judging a show from online images, I spend a considerable amount of time at the beginning just looking at the thumbnail images. When the image is reduced, it is easier to see the overall design and composition. This painting shines at the thumbnail level and delights when you zoom in. There are beautiful jewel-like washes of color, interesting textures in the background and a pleasing, energetic design.
The Gin House I may have spent more time looking at this painting than all the others. The design is quite simple. My question was, “Is it too simple?” It is an interesting question. Ultimately, I came to appreciate the compositional choices. The simplicity of the design anchors the painting so we can enjoy the interesting pieces and parts that energize the surface. The use of color, shape and value are very sophisticated. It is a strong image.
Glistening Octopuses I was drawn to this originally by the pleasing warm/cool palette–the blue is electric! I liked the solid composition and the positive/negative design. There is also something whimsical and strange that appeals to me. It is one of those paintings that stick in your head.
2023 Spring Digital Show Gallery
Below are the 2023 Spring Digital Show works. There are 108 works, which were submitted by 70 individual artists across the nation. To see the title and artist, simply hover your mouse over the image and the information will appear at the bottom of the image. Asterisks (*) at the end of an artist’s name indicate the work is for sale. To view a full screen enlargement of the image, simply click on the image itself.
We are thankful for all participating artists and the powerful show we were able to curate thanks to their artistic prowess. All accepted artists are listed alphabetically by their last names below the gallery. If you have interest in acquiring a particular piece, please reach out to Anna Izard, at scwatermediasociety@gmail.com for more information.
2023 Spring Digital Show
Accepted Artists
First Name | Last Name | city | state |
Suzanne | Accetta | Greenville | SC |
Christine | Alfery | Lac du Flambeau | WI |
Victoria | Alger | Myrtle Beach | SC |
Teresa | Anderson | Anderson | SC |
Mary | Angers | Long Branch | NJ |
Gina Noelle | Ash | Indian Land | SC |
Katherine | Bates | Daniel Island | SC |
Helen | Beacham | Summerville | SC |
Jefferson | Boozer | Charlotte | NC |
Sharron | Burns | Mint Hill | NC |
Rebecca | Carruth | Hartwell | GA |
Kathy | Caudill | Rock Hill | SC |
Marc | Chicoine | BROOKLYN | NY |
Rosie | Coleman | athens | GA |
Walter | Costilow | Vestavia Hills | AL |
Dorothy | Cromartie | Charleston | SC |
Gail | Cunningham | Columbia | SC |
Patty | Cunningham | Greenville | SC |
Suzy | Czerwinski | Mooresville | NC |
Anne | DuMont | Daniel Island | SC |
jennifer | edwards | florence | SC |
Lynda | English | Florence | SC |
Carolyn | Epperly | Charleston | SC |
Renea | Eshleman | Cayce | SC |
Lisa | Franklin | Tequesta | FL |
Denise | Greer | Rembert | SC |
John | Hancock | Waynesboro | VA |
Lyssa | Harvey | Columbia | SC |
Karyn | Healey | Summerville | SC |
Anne | Hightower-Patterson | Leesville, | SC |
Catherine | Hillis | Locust Grove | VA |
Susan | Hopps | Inman | SC |
Alice | Jackson | Landrum | SC |
John | James | Va Beach | VA |
Judy | Jarrett | Columbia | SC |
Russell | Jewell | Easley | SC |
Renee | Kahn | Charleston | SC |
Maura | Kenny | Pawleys Island | SC |
Kathy | Kitz | Lawrenceville | GA |
Pat | Konicki | Taylors | SC |
Amy | Kuenzie | Lexington | SC |
Ron | Malone | Bartow | FL |
Constance | Manley | Columbia | SC |
Rebecca | Masters | Conway | SC |
Rebecca | McDuffie | Charlotte | NC |
Diane | Mitchell | Pickens | SC |
Lee | Monts | Columbia | SC |
Kathryn | Morganelli | Irmo | SC |
Al | Morris | Pendleton | SC |
MC | Nash | Rock Hill | SC |
candace | naumowicz zacher | Summerville | SC |
Wesa | Neely | anderson | SC |
Daryl | Nicholson | Savannah | GA |
Philip | Palma | Bluffton | SC |
Elizabeth | Purcell | Clemson | SC |
Marcia | Pyner | Indian Land | SC |
Sharon | Reinckens | Rockville | MD |
Adelia | Ruth | Saluda | SC |
Nancy | Seay | Greensboro | NC |
Rosemary | Segreti | Athens | GA |
Annie | Skakun | Boyce | LA |
Alan | Smith | Belton | SC |
Constance | Spencer | Tega Cay | SC |
Gregory | Supple | Wappingers Falls | NY |
Barbara | Terry | Florence | SC |
Susan | Trott | Charleston | SC |
Rachel | Varner | Columbia | SC |
Christine | Walker | Charlotte | NC |
Beth | Woodall | Camden | SC |
Juanita | Yancey | Columbia | SC |