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.

Pines by Reinckens*

Saved by Woodall*

Colorful Flight by Accetta

Spirit Swan by Naumowicz-Zacher

Fringe Population by Coleman*

Human Born of a Star by Angers*

Sweetgrass by DuMont

Thinking of My Iris and My Finch by English*

Sunrise #2 by Kitz*

Man and His Dog by Ruth*

From Inside by Walker*

Boat Builders by Jewell

Downpour by Kuenzie

My Moth Bouquet by Ash*

Peacock Display by Eshleman*

Moving Chaos by Skakun*

Brothers by Jackson

Wisdom of the Wetlands XIII by Harvey

Cock O’ the Walk by Hopps

Winter’s End – Pinecrest Farm by Caudill

On The Throne by Chicoine*

Mahgreb Sunset by Morris*

Pawleys Island Chapel by Masters

Page Road by Smith*

Always Be My Baby by Nicholson

Safe From Harm by Boozer

Red Umbrellas by Supple*

Joy to the World by Jackson

On the Fence by Varner*

Rusty by Morris*

Soloist by Burns*

Window To The World by Hillis*

Sparkles by Healey*

Columns by Franklin*

Fragility by Beacham

Bursting thru the Snow by Czerwinski*

The Boil by Costilow*

Days Past by Smith*

Heart Throb by Kenny

Be The Light by Cunningham*

Low Tide by Terry*

Butterfly by James*

Serenity by Pyner

Marina Rain Delay by Seay*

Clan McNeil by McDuffie*

Black Vase by Cromartie*

Heron in His Habitat by Morganelli*

Three Faces of Bella by Coleman*

Bad Lands by Greer

Wisdom of the Wetlands XI by Harvey

A Little Gallery Music by Morganelli*

Bleeding Flowers by Skakun*

Coming or Going? by Epperly*

The Gin House by Trott*

Hardwick Harvester by Palma*

For Ripley by Manley

Summer Desert by Hightower-Patterson*

Glistening Octopuses by Accetta

San Jose Dodecahedrons by Angers*

Giving Directions by McDuffie*

Craving Primary Connections by Kahn*

Looking Out from Higher Ground by Monts

Sunrise 7 by Kitz*

The Sound Of Silence by Alfery*

Happy Dog! by Nash*

Brilliant Bird of Paradise by Bates*

Franklin Street Ginkos by Hancock*

Travel Buds by Beacham*

Coburg Dairy by Edwards

Goghing a Different Path by Jarrett*

Early Morning Lake View by Anderson*

Rhapsody by Chicoine*

Madison Avenue Blues by Supple*

Walking Through Venice by English*

Sunrise on Broad St, Charleston SC by Masters

Gentle Portrait by Segreti*

Tomato Man by Segreti

Solitary Reflections by Neely

Broad River Nativity by Boozer

Slave Market by Cromartie*

Granite Park in the Fall by Eshleman

Bruce with Tank by Mitchell

Lipstick Sunset II by Carruth

Autumn’s Wane by Hancock*

Window Dressing by Alger*

Hidden Depths by Spencer*

Cosplay in the Big Apple by Hillis*

Stringing a thought-Grey Sky by James*

Sprinkler by Kuenzie

IVF Success! by Spencer*

Fallen by Costilow*

Drift Roses by Kenny

Wave Runners by Nicholson*

Moment by Moment by Monts

The Presentation by Purcell*

Lunar Garden II by Carruth*

Ho Hum Day by Malone

Life by Cunningham*

Oyster Shell Trail by Terry*

Cavern Waterfall by Seay*

Laundry Day Before the Wedding by Healey*

The Strings We Attach To Things by Alfery*

Black Metal by Konicki*

Overlooking Motta Sant’Anastasia by Anderson*

The Embrace by Yancey*

Window Shopping by Greer

Intersection by Epperly*

Spring Snaps by Hightower-Patterson

2023 Spring Digital Show