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.

Travel Buds by Beacham*

Pawleys Island Chapel by Masters

Sunrise on Broad St, Charleston SC by Masters

The Strings We Attach To Things by Alfery*

A Little Gallery Music by Morganelli*

Franklin Street Ginkos by Hancock*

Wisdom of the Wetlands XIII by Harvey

Craving Primary Connections by Kahn*

Summer Desert by Hightower-Patterson*

Window Dressing by Alger*

Clan McNeil by McDuffie*

Sweetgrass by DuMont

Coburg Dairy by Edwards

Bad Lands by Greer

The Boil by Costilow*

Looking Out from Higher Ground by Monts

My Moth Bouquet by Ash*

Ho Hum Day by Malone

Saved by Woodall*

Fragility by Beacham

Heron in His Habitat by Morganelli*

Coming or Going? by Epperly*

Fringe Population by Coleman*

Intersection by Epperly*

Moving Chaos by Skakun*

Low Tide by Terry*

San Jose Dodecahedrons by Angers*

Bruce with Tank by Mitchell

Lipstick Sunset II by Carruth

Early Morning Lake View by Anderson*

Mahgreb Sunset by Morris*

Goghing a Different Path by Jarrett*

Black Metal by Konicki*

Laundry Day Before the Wedding by Healey*

The Presentation by Purcell*

Window To The World by Hillis*

Broad River Nativity by Boozer

Window Shopping by Greer

Marina Rain Delay by Seay*

Wave Runners by Nicholson*

Soloist by Burns*

Life by Cunningham*

Human Born of a Star by Angers*

Solitary Reflections by Neely

From Inside by Walker*

Bursting thru the Snow by Czerwinski*

Hardwick Harvester by Palma*

Madison Avenue Blues by Supple*

Glistening Octopuses by Accetta

Thinking of My Iris and My Finch by English*

Happy Dog! by Nash*

Spirit Swan by Naumowicz-Zacher

Drift Roses by Kenny

Tomato Man by Segreti

Brilliant Bird of Paradise by Bates*

Days Past by Smith*

Red Umbrellas by Supple*

Oyster Shell Trail by Terry*

The Embrace by Yancey*

Be The Light by Cunningham*

Black Vase by Cromartie*

Lunar Garden II by Carruth*

On The Throne by Chicoine*

Columns by Franklin*

Always Be My Baby by Nicholson

Safe From Harm by Boozer

Giving Directions by McDuffie*

Sunrise 7 by Kitz*

Granite Park in the Fall by Eshleman

Cosplay in the Big Apple by Hillis*

Serenity by Pyner

Sparkles by Healey*

Pines by Reinckens*

Rusty by Morris*

Autumn’s Wane by Hancock*

Sprinkler by Kuenzie

Brothers by Jackson

Colorful Flight by Accetta

Downpour by Kuenzie

Cock O’ the Walk by Hopps

Butterfly by James*

Winter’s End – Pinecrest Farm by Caudill

On the Fence by Varner*

Slave Market by Cromartie*

Hidden Depths by Spencer*

Boat Builders by Jewell

Overlooking Motta Sant’Anastasia by Anderson*

Stringing a thought-Grey Sky by James*

Page Road by Smith*

Fallen by Costilow*

Joy to the World by Jackson

Peacock Display by Eshleman*

Rhapsody by Chicoine*

Sunrise #2 by Kitz*

Wisdom of the Wetlands XI by Harvey

The Gin House by Trott*

Man and His Dog by Ruth*

Cavern Waterfall by Seay*

Gentle Portrait by Segreti*

Spring Snaps by Hightower-Patterson

Heart Throb by Kenny

Walking Through Venice by English*

The Sound Of Silence by Alfery*

IVF Success! by Spencer*

Moment by Moment by Monts

Bleeding Flowers by Skakun*

Three Faces of Bella by Coleman*

For Ripley by Manley

2023 Spring Digital Show