Gallery and Awards for 2024 Visions in Pastel
The Philadelphia Pastel Society presented awards for our 2024 National Exhibition, Visions in Pastel at our reception on Sunday, October 20 These awards were selected by our judge of awards, Margaret Dyer, PSA-MP.IAPS/MC who shared with us her comments about the show:
Judge’s General Statement for Visions in Pastel — Margaret Dyer Dyer, PSA-MP.IAPS/MC
Let me tell you this was no easy task; every piece in this show was exceptional. You should all be proud. But my task was to choose those that I thought stood out among all the works. Unfortunately there were many more deserving paintings than I was allowed to choose; I was assigned a quota. Know that all the artists’ names were concealed at judging; I had no idea whose work I was looking at.
When given the daunting task of choosing award winners from a room full of exceptional paintings, the first thing I look for in a painting is technical proficiency; I look for draftsmanship, which would include drawing, perspective and anatomy. I look for strong composition and an understanding of color, which includes a solid grasp of value and temperature. Once I have isolated those pieces that fulfill this criteria, I need to eliminate more pieces to meet my quota. I look for something in the artist’s work which transcends technical proficiency. So I look for an unusually expressive application of the pastel medium. I look for a unique subject or a unique handling of a traditional subject. I look for confidence in the work which shows the artist has found his or her “voice”.
To select the top awards, I had to choose the few that I thought were the strongest. That’s where it really became difficult, because the quality of all of these was comparable. This is where my bias became evident. But that’s just the way it is with judging a show; if this biased judge didn’t choose your painting, the next one may.
I congratulate all of you artists whose work I had the honor to view, and I give special congratulations to the award winners. These were truly excellent works.
I also want to express my gratitude to the Philadelphia Pastel Society, everyone on the board, who so graciously made this exhibition possible and my workshop such a pleasant experience.
Judge’s statements for individual awards:
2024 VISIONS IN PASTEL
MARGARET DYER’S COMMENTS ON TOP AWARDS
ARETÉ AWARD OF EXCELLENCE $1,000
Donated by Barbara Berry:
CAT NAPPIN’ by Jessica Turgoose
This artist understands form, volume and dimension. She sculpts with line. She understands the temperature of color. She has enveloped this boy with his soft blankets and his warm friend and has created an heirloom which will be treasured for generations.
FIRST PLACE AWARD $750
MORNING LIGHT by Carol Kardon
I loved this busy still life with its subtle and minimal palette. There is a frenzy of activity and there is quiet space. There is texture, disappearing edges, soft edges, sharp detail. I considered sneaking it out of the gallery to take home with me. I know just where I would put it.
SECOND PLACE AWARD $500
TROUTVILLE SUNSET by Marianne Fyda
This painting could have been painted 100 years ago, it could have been painted yesterday. It evokes a time of grandparents and Sunday dinners and laundry on the line. It is a place I think I have been…or have I? This artist captured a precious moment in time.
THIRD PLACE AWARD $300
WYMAN’S ALLEY by Alex Eisenzopf
This has an inviting, almost whimsical perspective, sensitive line drawing and dynamic composition. It tells a story in a simple and distinctive illustrative style. It looks deceptively easy, but it is drawn by somebody who knows what he is doing.
HONORABLE MENTION – $250
GARDEN ROSES by Tatsiana Harbacheuskaya
This artist captured dazzling sunlight in a simple but elegant still life.
HONORABLE MENTION – $250
RAIL BRIDGE IN THE DISTANCE by Scott Foster
From a distance this scene seems photographic, yet upon closer inspection,
it is all frenzied small marks. It is an impression that evokes a golden autumn day.
HONORABLE MENTION – $250
THE DAUGHTERS OF JOHN LIDWELL-DURNIN by Teresa DeSeve
A bold contemporary portrait; bold in technique and style.
GEORGE TORPHY MEMORIAL AWARD – $250
MOTHER AND CHILD by Karl Fehrenbach
A close look reveals delicate spray, frothy foam, and translucent waves —
skillful texture and color.
PWCS AWARD – $250
MYRRH SEA by William Schneider
An experienced hand makes a portrait look easy. But it’s not.
This artist knows how to do it.
JOHN DURNIN MEMORIAL AWARD – $200.00
DUSK AT MELVILLE AIRPORT by Drew Scarpa
I always marvel at how some people can take an ordinary scene and make an extraordinary painting. This artist did just that.
CHEAP JOE’S ART STUFF AWARD (CERTIFICATE) – $100
THE MIND LOCK by Ilana Reisner
Great drawing, great energy, great title.
DAKOTA ART AWARD (CERTIFICATE) – $150
SNOWY NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM by Lorraine Ricciardi
Black, white and a hint of yellow are interesting choices for this winter evening. The artist skillfully captured the cold and the windswept rain in the glow of the lanterns.
BLICK ART MATERIALS AWARD (CERTIFICATE) – $100
COUNTY LINE by Mary Ellen Goetz
A strong image made with an economy of bold strokes and color.
BLICK ART MATERIALS AWARD (CERTIFICATE) – $100
MODENA MORNING by Paulette Staley
People are very difficult to draw. This artist does it well.
PSA AWARD – $100
LEMONS ON WHITE CLOTH by Jeri Greenberg
A simple still-life, a minimal palette, a dramatic composition, an elegant painting.
RITA MORRIN MEMORIAL AWARD – $100
BREAKFAST IN PROVIDENCE by Kenneth Witkowski
An unusual composition, a profound way to capture a memorable morning.
Echoes of Edward Hopper.
CONSTANCE J. McCLATCHY MEMORIAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
FOR USE OF COLOR – $100
DAY’S END by Stephanie Brown
Purple, blue, green and yellow. What can you do with those colors?
How about a stunning sunset.
PASTEL SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY – $100
COLOR PLAY by Madeleine Kelly
Sensitively drawn portrait of a tree, which is as difficult to draw as the human body.
Maybe more so.
MARYLAND PASTEL SOCIETY (MPS) – $100
BLUSH WITH BLUE by Mary Rinderle Smith
An abstracted garden, a confident hand, a refreshing explosion of color.
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS PASTEL SOCIETY (CMPS) – $100
WORKDAY BLUES by Lisa Cunningham
Remarkable realism from a medium that some people call chalk!