2024 Members' Juried Exhibition
The Henry Gallery, Penn State Great Valley Campus
30 E. Swedesford Rd., Malvern, PA
Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony, Thursday January 18, 2024, 5:30-7 PM
January 16 - March 15, 2024
PPS Award of Excellence
Lunch Is Ready by Carol Kardon
Love the color harmonies. Not a whole lot of detail, but you know exactly what you are looking at. This is such a pleasing piece! Have to admit, I am kind of crazy about it! Anyone looking at this beautiful painting will feel happy. Breaks all kinds of rules, in the best possible ways. So Painterly!
First Place Award
On the Hudson by Jacqueline Myerson
Wow! Talk about challenging yourself! Had to give this piece high marks for complexity. Highly accurate rendering, but does not rely solely on well executed realism. The composition is really interesting. The folds, bungees, hardware, etc. all lead the eye to a location of interest. Incredibly well executed piece!
Second Place Award
In Full Bloom by Stephanie Jean Brown
The composition of this painting is incredibly pleasing. The complementary color choices in the flowers create a sparkling effect that excites my eye and leads me right up to the tree and structure. The sky holes in the tree are really well done and random. Very hard to get right! And, not that “pretty” matters, but it is a VERY pretty work!
Third Place Award
Violet by Teresa DeSeve
This is a very quiet piece, but emotionally powerful. Economy of color, but where it is used, it makes a statement. Lots of loose, bold marks. Good feature structure and definition, age appropriate for a child. This is not easy to do, so I can tell the artist has a strong, working knowledge of feature proportion.
Ampersand Art Supply Award
Sugartown Blooming by Mary Rinderle Smith
Love the feeling and composition. Particularly in the foreground, where the design and marks are very dynamic. In contrast the sky, and the light and shadows in the structures, are very simply stated. Really appreciate that it doesn’t compete with what is going on up front. Just a lovely painting!
Blick Art Materials Award
Maine Revisited by Madeleine Kelly
Strong feeling of being right there. I didn’t need to see the title to know exactly the location. The deep cool shadows and the warm light are so peaceful. Reminds me of my happiest time of summer when I go to Maine with my artist friends.
Blick Art Materials Award
Rememberance by Kimberly L. Stone
From a distance the value definition is clear and patterns are really pleasing. Up close you see the marks. I am a huge fan of the directional mark making. Really well done!
Dakota Pastel Award
It’s Gonna Be a Bright, Sunshiny Day by Marie Grace Gizzi
Reminiscent of Edward Hopper. Great feeling to the piece. Simple background in a complementary color, highlights the figure, and it is a really well drawn figure. Nicely done!
Dakota Pastel Award
Nesting by Jeanne Gunther
This painting tells a story. I want to read a book written around this image. I love the active mark making in the bird and nest, juxtaposed to the softer treatment of the leaves and sky. Normally I would think the outlining of the bird would be too harsh, it REALLY works in this piece. Great illustrative quality that I loved right off.
Juror of Selection General statement
Karen Israel PSA-MP, IAPS/MC, PSWC, CPS, PPSCC
Juror’s Statement: “It is a great honor to select works for the PPS Members Show. I have enjoyed lingering over each painting and I revisited each piece multiple times during the decision process. To assist these decisions, I applied the same general guidelines that I use to assess my own work: composition, technical merit and emotional content.
I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the artists who entered this show. It takes courage and I applaud each and every one of you.
This how will be a beautiful example of the diversity and power of the pastel medium.”
Artist Statement & Biography: “Creating art is a vehicle through which I can more easily communicate my impressions of the world. I enjoy using line, color and a dynamic design to tell my visual story. As I begin the creative process, the medium of pastel provides an immediate and colorful way to make painterly decisions and choices.”
Karen Israel’s pastel paintings are defined by their dynamic compositions and unique viewpoints. She is influenced by the light and mood of the subject and lets those elements dictate her approach. These subjects are rendered with a strong appreciation for the rigors of formal design coupled with a fearless array of color choices.
In addition to numerous awards, Karen’s work has garnered the honor of Signature Member with the American Artists Professional League, Master Circle with the International Association of Pastel Societies and Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. Karen is an artist member of the Salmagundi Club, NYC, the Copley Society, Boston and the Lyme Art Association.
Karen conducts many teaching demonstrations and workshops throughout the United States and she has served as juror for many national competitions.
In May 2022, Karen’s pastel paintings were on exhibit with Les Amis Des Arts in Pastels of the World in Bourbonnais, honoring American Women pastelists, Montluçon, France.
Karen’s pastel paintings were featured twice in Practique Des Arts: August 2020, July 2018 and in Southwest Art Magazine in April 2021.
See more about Karen at artbykarenisrael.com.
Judge of Awards
Anne Singer PSA, IAPS/MC, MPS
Anne Singer discovered her love of art on a trip to Paris in 2011 and began a journey of art education in 2012. She studied oil painting for several years before finding pastels. Studying and working in pastels quickly became a passion. Her pastels have been exhibited in national and international exhibitions. She is also well known for her work in oil, including the Impressionist Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America, Eastern Regional Exhibition 2020.
Anne is an IAPS Master Circle member, a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, a Signature Member of the Maryland Pastel Society, and a member of the Oil Painteers of America and American Impressionist Society. She is a founding member of the Blue Berry Pie and Art Society.
See more about Anne at annefsinger.com.