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February 2020 Judges: Professional artist Jane Hunt judged the Representational Professional category and PaintingContest.Org panel of art professionals just paintings in Abstract Professional and Novice/For the Love of Painting categories in February 2020. Multiple views formed the consensus regarding finalists.
BEST IN SHOW AND FINALIST CERTIFICATES: Each certificate is ready for printing at your desktop at full size (on letter size paper, 8.5 x 11 inches). First, scroll through to find your certificate. Next, click directly on the image to enlarge, then "right click" or "control - click" to save to your computer. Make sure you print in "landscape mode" and if you can, check "scale to fit page."
See professional artist judges' comments on all finalist paintings. Painting are presented in random order, per category. Click directly on the painting image for additional information. Best in Show (over 10 entries) receives a cash prize in addition to a free promoted painting entry credit. All Finalists receive a free promoted painting entry credit. Free painting credits are available to artists when they next log in.
Scroll down to see all:
REPRESENTATIONAL PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Name of Artist:
Jodie Kain
Award:
BEST IN SHOW - Cash award and free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"This entire painting has a wonderful ethereal quality. The muted and high key palette certainly lend to this effect, but it is largely achieved by very thoughtful brushwork. The few darks in the piece are brilliantly placed and add a necessary weight."
Name of Artist:
Nicole Moné
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"This piece not only has a strong and compelling narrative but is skillfully rendered with astute color harmony. The entire painting is underpinned by a clever value structure that leads the viewer’s eye."
Name of Artist:
George Bodine
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"The artist has adroitly compressed values while still managing to create interest and flow throughout the piece. Strong drawing skills, mastery of color and subtle temperature shifts make this a standout piece."
Name of Artist:
Jason Sacran
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"The low key palette, nuanced temperature shifts, and multiple light sources lend to a beautiful sense of mystery. The artist deftly leads the eye and adds interest with varied edges and visual texture. An exceptionally designed and executed piece."
Name of Artist:
Deborah Tilby
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"This painting looks deceptively simple and has a wonderful mood to it: skillful drawing, movement, and varied edges keep the viewer’s interest. The careful restraint of color works very well here."
Name of Artist:
Vasja Grabner
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
Jane Hunt, Representational Professional
Judge's Comment:
"The strong drawing skills and very realistic painting style allow the viewer to become fully intrigued by the narrative. The artist has employed a very clever composition and value juxtaposition."
Honorable Mention (Painting Contest Panel of Judges):
Beyond the Window by Lisa Lee
https://www.paintingcontest.org/entries/paintings-latest-entries/art/160/5208
Oak Bay, Light Through the Cover by Rajat Shanbhag
https://www.paintingcontest.org/entries/paintings-latest-entries/art/160/5257
Rainy Night in Dubuque by Spencer Meagher
https://www.paintingcontest.org/entries/paintings-latest-entries/art/160/5256
ABSTRACT PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Name of Artist:
LAran
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“There is the sense of fleeting ghosts hovering within streams of low-chroma hues, their complements intertwining, merging and reaching skyward. We imagine distant conversations, flowing in and out of audible perception, as if connecting to some distant radio transmission.”
Name of Artist:
Jerielyn Mao
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“A complex field of graphic elements combines anomalous shapes with bursting color, connecting in a precise, puzzle-like manner across the canvas. The viewer’s mind strives to interpret: a leaf, a bird, a forest, a face, or other-worldly sprite, revealing itself for the first time.”
Name of Artist:
Leah Dockrill
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“The title, viewed along with this striking abstract image, gives one the impression of something abrupt, unforeseen, coming out of nowhere—an event we are wholly unprepared for. Sound familiar? Imposing bold strokes smash and separate with force, like a powerful jet accelerating from left field, exploding on contact.”
Name of Artist:
Hyunhee Doh
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“Are we just servile organic mechanisms, the brain’s real purpose to entertain the mind while the organism follows a script beyond our control? Within the context of biology, there is an interesting argument to be made, and we are forced to explore the validity of our thoughts and emotions verus the power of animal instinct and genetic programming. Carefully rendered, surreal organic forms in this series of paintings starkly illustrate the macabre aspect of the question.”
Name of Artist:
Geiza Barreto
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“Expressionist painting leaves the viewer with a sense of an evolving message, just as the artist hoped. Color and line move together energetically, leading our eye in and through the canvas to further explore and reflect. Aspiring for greater things in life emanates from dreams, possibilities not yet realized in spite of ongoing challenges.”
Name of Artist:
Tom Shropshire
Award:
BEST IN SHOW - Cash award and free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Abstract Professional
Judge's Comment:
“A convoluted journey of the mind begins on a ribbon-like trail which finally turns in on itself. Mesmerized by displays of grandeur, we’re also sobered by impressions of squandered wealth (eruptions of glittering gold amid dark secrets). The title, Royal “Descent” holds an especially appropriate double meaning. Effective dimensional composition creates a strong feeling of spontaneous energy.”
Honorable Mention:
Time Traveler by Carol Matthews
https://www.paintingcontest.org/entries/paintings-latest-entries/art/161/5252
NOVICE / FOR THE LOVE OF PAINTING CATEGORY
Name of Artist:
Almas Kabani
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
“Striking layering technique leaves an impression of more than brilliant atmospherics; one has the sense of furrowing through earth, water, fire, and finally air in a multi-dimensional adventure taking us beyond the canvas. Sweeping sharp and blended edges with vivid and deep primary hues seem to carry the viewer aloft.”
Name of Artist:
Nancy Price
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
"Animated, appealing mood in a pleasing composition engages us instantly. Broad brushstrokes in transparent layers and large swaths of contrasting values balance the scene, adding to the sense of abandon and glee connecting viewer to subject. The blue, jewel-like collar detail and deeply cast shadow is both convincing and grounding."
Name of Artist:
Bruce Strickland
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
“Delightful portrait comes to life! Careful rendering with good draftsmanship, balanced composition, engaging pose and attention to detail combine for a strong sense of visual unity, leading the viewer to participate in the same expression of momentary joy.”
Name of Artist:
Lynne Anderson Rempel
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
“A holiday feeling sets the mood in this nighttime winter cityscape. Snow flurries seem to float softly to icy streets while window shoppers stroll amid towering buildings. A touch of distortion to the perspective drawing positively adds to the overall effect, anchoring the scene in our mind.”
Name of Artist:
Xixi Yang
Award:
FINALIST - Free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
“An interesting balance is achieved in each individual panel as well as all three taken together in this expressionist tryptych with the concept that humans will somehow merge with our earthly biosphere at some future time. It may not be as far fetched a notion as we think if disconnection to Mother Earth threatens our long-term survival.”
Name of Artist:
Karen Burns
Award:
BEST IN SHOW - Cash award and free promoted entry
Judge and Category:
PaintingContest.Org Panel of Art Professionals, Novice / For the Love of Painting
Judge's Comment:
"The flowing, directional sweep of this beautifully balanced still life just draws us right in as we enjoy perusing the contrasting textures, varied edges, skillfully rendered forms and pleasing color harmony. The little blue egg in the spiraling nest is a sweet reward that reverberates in the mind and touches the heart."
Honorable Mention:
The Green Pot by Karen Burns
https://www.paintingcontest.org/entries/paintings-latest-entries/art/159/5199
