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.

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.

Thinking of My Iris and My Finch by English*

Craving Primary Connections by Kahn*

Page Road by Smith*

Intersection by Epperly*

Looking Out from Higher Ground by Monts

Man and His Dog by Ruth*

Bursting thru the Snow by Czerwinski*

Heart Throb by Kenny

Oyster Shell Trail by Terry*

Window To The World by Hillis*

Safe From Harm by Boozer

Sprinkler by Kuenzie

Colorful Flight by Accetta

Coburg Dairy by Edwards

Pines by Reinckens*

Walking Through Venice by English*

Stringing a thought-Grey Sky by James*

Bleeding Flowers by Skakun*

The Embrace by Yancey*

Sweetgrass by DuMont

Moving Chaos by Skakun*

Fragility by Beacham

Hidden Depths by Spencer*

Coming or Going? by Epperly*

Spring Snaps by Hightower-Patterson

Human Born of a Star by Angers*

Sparkles by Healey*

Window Dressing by Alger*

On The Throne by Chicoine*

Be The Light by Cunningham*

Sunrise #2 by Kitz*

Wave Runners by Nicholson*

Laundry Day Before the Wedding by Healey*

Giving Directions by McDuffie*

Butterfly by James*

Marina Rain Delay by Seay*

The Strings We Attach To Things by Alfery*

San Jose Dodecahedrons by Angers*

Travel Buds by Beacham*

Lipstick Sunset II by Carruth

Glistening Octopuses by Accetta

Days Past by Smith*

Spirit Swan by Naumowicz-Zacher

A Little Gallery Music by Morganelli*

Bad Lands by Greer

Sunrise on Broad St, Charleston SC by Masters

Happy Dog! by Nash*

Soloist by Burns*

The Sound Of Silence by Alfery*

Granite Park in the Fall by Eshleman

Pawleys Island Chapel by Masters

Clan McNeil by McDuffie*

Fringe Population by Coleman*

Slave Market by Cromartie*

The Boil by Costilow*

Heron in His Habitat by Morganelli*

Downpour by Kuenzie

Brothers by Jackson

Ho Hum Day by Malone

Goghing a Different Path by Jarrett*

Window Shopping by Greer

Wisdom of the Wetlands XIII by Harvey

Cosplay in the Big Apple by Hillis*

Overlooking Motta Sant’Anastasia by Anderson*

Always Be My Baby by Nicholson*

Mahgreb Sunset by Morris*

Early Morning Lake View by Anderson*

Bruce with Tank by Mitchell

Joy to the World by Jackson

Solitary Reflections by Neely

Lunar Garden II by Carruth*

Wisdom of the Wetlands XI by Harvey

Red Umbrellas by Supple*

Autumn’s Wane by Hancock*

For Ripley by Manley

Madison Avenue Blues by Supple*

Drift Roses by Kenny

Sunrise 7 by Kitz*

Hardwick Harvester by Palma*

Broad River Nativity by Boozer

Black Metal by Konicki*

Life by Cunningham*

Winter’s End – Pinecrest Farm by Caudill

Cock O’ the Walk by Hopps

Moment by Moment by Monts

IVF Success! by Spencer*

Cavern Waterfall by Seay*

Gentle Portrait by Segreti*

Three Faces of Bella by Coleman*

The Gin House by Trott*

Brilliant Bird of Paradise by Bates*

Summer Desert by Hightower-Patterson*

Tomato Man by Segreti

Fallen by Costilow*

On the Fence by Varner*

From Inside by Walker*

Rusty by Morris*

Serenity by Pyner

Boat Builders by Jewell

Low Tide by Terry*

Black Vase by Cromartie*

Saved by Woodall*

Columns by Franklin*

Peacock Display by Eshleman*

The Presentation by Purcell*

Franklin Street Ginkos by Hancock*

My Moth Bouquet by Ash*

Rhapsody by Chicoine*

2023 Spring Digital Show