Shows

The entry fee is $35. Accepted mediums are watercolors, acrylics, and water-based inks.

HarborChase and Palm Beach Watercolor Society presents three art shows for our members to participate in

November 7, 2024

HarborChase of Boynton Beach

Thursday, November 7,2024, from 2-5 pm

11810 S Military Trl, Boynton Beach, FL 33436

Entries Accepted thru November 1

Art from the Soul

April 17 – October, 2024

BRIC (Boca Raton Innovaton Center) – 4950 Communications Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Juror's Statement

My heartfelt congratulations to everyone who participated in the exhibition, and for making my job so difficult! Jurying an art exhibition can be so subjective, and while there are many criteria, I was careful to consider the usual suspects: aesthetics like composition and awareness of color theory, creativity, technical rigor, conceptual depth, cultural context, and emotional impact. I was delighted to see many artists clearly aware of art’s history, and how contemporary works can be made in conversation with the past without being anachronistic. I always give bonus points when artists push what their materials can do (or what they think they can do). As a final criteria, I always love to see a bit of the ineffable – the artist’s unique voice, perspective and personality shine through as it pulls me into their world.

Michelle A M Miller
Juror

Awards

1st: Sue Oakes; “Effusive” – The visual and emotional impact of this work belies its modest scale. It’s the right kind of strange – a world unto itself. It’s one of those works that feels much larger than its reality. Hints of Futurism, Expressionism, and Cubism collide and fracture into a trippy floral. It’s a bizarre, delicious sort of morsel and I kept returning for more. Bonus points for the creative use of collage.

2nd: Marilyn Liedman; “Siesta Girls” – My choice here was a delightful surprise – I loved the traditional, excellent technique married to a very contemporary and relatable subject. Perhaps I projected my own life onto this one but I felt the weight of this scene rendered with such careful and sensitive empathy. These women look tired, don’t they? Aren’t we all just so exhausted?

3rd: Terry Pesso; “Tapestry” – This standout still-life is so joyful, clever, and fun. I found myself getting lost in this scene, my eyes found delight and interest everywhere. Enticing marriage of invention, pattern, collage, and color. It literally glows.

Honorable Mention: Karen Thornton; “Date Palm at Dusk” – This is of Florida. A river/canal flows in a swamp where ibises hunt for insects and a towering cycad offers a sliver of shade. The sun-drenched landscape stretches for miles and I am transported. Atmospheric, evocative, elegant.

Honorable Mention: Mac Johnson; “Gillian Bay – Allelujai” – It’s easy to miss the tension in this sun-filled piece – the girl looks so carefree and happy and it’s a bright, clear, warm day. The warm, crystalline water beckons. Does she see it? Is she aware of the danger lurking beneath the surface? Utterly charming with exquisite color and composition.

Judges Choice: Karen H Salup; “Energy” – Who can resist a tuft of grass? Or whatever this is – it makes me think of Joan and Albrecht and more and it is vibrating with life and color and energy and I could live with this.

Colorful Visions Watercolor Only

Parkland Library 6621 University Dr. Parkland, FL 33067

Juror's Statement

The exhibition of the membership from the Palm Beach Watercolor Society at the Parkland Library is a strong collection of works, showcasing a wide variety of talented artists well-versed in a wide range of styles of watercolor painting.
aire experience.

All-in-all, a very strong showing of artworks from the Palm Beach Watercolor Society.

Jeffrey Wiener
Juror

Awards

1st: Lee Krull; “Rooted In Old Florida” –First place goes to Lee Krull, whose large, vertically formatted watercolor painting pays homage to Florida’s rich history. This colorful scene presents a Florida back-woodsy collection of household items: a rifle, hat, boots, and jacket, featuring themes from the native Seminole people’s culture. Showcasing delicate, lovingly painted details, this painting is a great example of what makes watercolor paintings such a joy to look at. Krull’s choice of colors, and the application of JUST the right amount of pigment, allows light to pass through, keeping the colors pure, and giving the whole scene a pleasant, quiet ambiance.

2nd: Judy Nunno; “Garlic Crabs” –Second place goes to Judy Nunno, whose large scale work “Garlic Crabs” presents a still-life with plenty of ambitions, all handled deftly, with Nunno conquering textures, shadows, strong light, and refracted light! I love those crabs in particular, as they are crystal figurines filled with prisms, with beams of light going in all directions. A testament to observational skills and the discipline to follow through on the details observed.

3rd: Charles Passarelli; “The Boys In The Band” – Third place goes to Chalres Passarelli and his “Boys in the Band”, a large-scale scene presenting three drummers in Afro-Caribbean attire, all confronting the viewer, expressions of pride on their faces, and solidarity in their stance. I can see the party. I can almost hear the music. Perhaps they are ghosts of the islands, in this mesmerizing dream-like scene of rich, floral colors.

Honorable Mention: Bobbin Salisbury; “Chute De Eau” – A lovely, colorful abstraction of a lanscape with water streaming throughout. Why I love abstractions is that they either work or they don’t – on a gut level. I don’t know whether this scene is a waterfall or a fountain, but I FEEL it.

Honorable Mention: Regina Lerman; “Tough Cookies” – The other honorable mention goes to Rgina Lerman’s “Tough Cookies”, whose figurative study presents four female soldiers (Israeli) in uniform. I like it as a feminist statement as well as a figurative Modern realism. I also think it’s a brave work to submit during these times, and thus deserves an honorable mention.

Judges Choice: Jeanne Cohen; “Venice” – The Jurors Choice goes to
“Venice” by Jeanne Cohen, whose work reminds me of John Singer Sargent’s looser travel scenes. Cohen’s brush strokes have no fear, filled with courage and fluidity, giving the entire piece the feeling of a plein aire experience.

Color My Rainbow

Boca Raton Community Center, 150 Crawford Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Awards & Juror's Remarks

“I want to thank the Palm Beach Watercolor Society for inviting me to judge the member exhibit. I found
that the work represented the high level of technical proficiency of the guild members, and a wellrounded
variety of subject matter and styles. To differentiate among such an array of proficient work, I
view the art through set of criteria to determine which works I feel best exemplify the medium, subject
and compositional qualities.
After viewing the entire exhibit, I go through a second time and take note of pieces that stood out, either
for a compelling subject, an interesting composition, or an innovative use of the medium. I use a numeric
score to weigh the pieces, based on Composition, Original Concept, Technical Skill, Innovative use of
Media, and Compelling Theme or Subject. Basically, I’m looking for work that goes beyond precise
reproduction and technical skill; that shows some risk-taking or pushing boundaries.” -Andrea Huffman, Juror

The pieces that I felt met those criteria the most are as follows:

1st: Thomas Rebek; Uncorking the Wine: the subject shows a very complex composition that had
a strong focal point, yet balanced with several interesting areas. The use of the watercolor showed a
wide range of techniques employed to convey the various textures and surfaces of the objects
illustrated. The figure looking away from the viewer, and the flash of light behind the bar created an
interesting narrative beyond a static pose.

2nd: Lee Krull; Variegated: The clustering of the dense foliage as the overall composition
was a welcome change from a traditional still life or manicured garden scene. Each leaf was a unique
opportunity to use a variety of watercolor techniques to keep the repetition interesting. The similarities
kept the composition unified, yet slight variations keep your eye moving from one leaf to another,
discovering that there are actually several different types of plants represented in this painting.
3rd: Lynn Holland; Coconut Garden: Limiting the palette to the complimentary colors of yelloworange
and blue creates a unified composition, yet gives the painting a vibrant contrast. The graphic
style of this piece is eye catching, and uncommon in watercolor painting. The subtle layering of washes
to create shadows shows a strong command of the medium.

HM: Sally Accetta; Strange Feelings: this painting demonstrates a unique approach to abstract
painting, alternating between the well-defined focal point and the loosely painted areas of the
composition. The layering of different techniques creates a sense of realistic depth that is often
overlooked in abstract work. The range of techniques used in this painting shows a command of the
medium that keeps the work interesting and vibrant.

HM: Camille Rosano; The Charmer: Initially drawn in by the eyes of the subject, I found so much
more to observe when I looked more closely. The skillful layering of washes was used to “sculpt” the
face, giving it depth, and adding to the sentiment portrayed in the eyes. The cool colors used to create
shadows as well as the texture of the hair both demonstrate a confident use of the medium. The blue
background serves as a subtle balance for the boldness of the blue eyes that dominate the composition.

JR: Pauline Runkle; Holidays in NYC: The non-traditional use of the paint was an effective way to
create a mood and a narrative in this painting. The contrast of light and dark values was very well done,
emphasizing the silhouetted figure and the reflection of light on the wet ground. Though quite different,
the scene reminded me of Hopper’s Nighthawks.

And Then There Was Art

BRiC (Boca Raton Innovation Campus), 4950 Communications Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Awards & Juror's Remarks

“The vast array of style, subject matter and media made viewing the works extremely enjoyable. At the same time, it was challenging to make the final selections as the level of the entries is so strong. Congratulations to all of the entrants. The gallery as a whole is testament of what can be achieved with water media, when combined with such creativity, experimentation, freedom and risk taking. The awarded selections are pieces that aside from technical excellence, achieved the ultimate challenge; evoking feelings and a conversation with the viewer. Thank you for sharing your stories, I heard you, I saw you. Yes, there is ART! My commentary for each piece maybe somewhat unconventional, but it’s what came across and I hope the artists can appreciate the point of view that I found most interesting about each piece. In many, cases what makes them so successful is the duality, contradiction and contrasts that are played out in the works.” – Michael Gregg, Juror

Riptide by Sally Cooper: 1st

Riptide evoked: Choreographed chaos Rhythmic chromatic dance performance Cinematic view of a dramatic scene with multiple lens focal lengths Drama that Ebbs and flows Speed, action, abrupt calm Vibrant dialogue Frozen warmth, blurred clarity, distant presence.

A Tree Of A Thousand Uses by Mac Johnson: 2nd

In Tree Of A Thousand Uses I saw Vibrant clarity Scented details Tactile textures Weighted, light gravity Tense, gracefully light.

Mother With Child by JL Schwartz: 3rd

Mother With Child Felt like: A Silkfull, velvet delight A puzzling riddle Enveloping embrace Cool warmth.

Into The Woods by Jeanne Landau: Honorable Mention

Into The Woods took me to: Uncharted melancholic journey Fragranced pathways Light, hopeful, peaceful solitude.

Fragments by Patricia Lappin: Honorable Mention

In Fragments I saw: Storylines Past times, deciphering Tension with reinterpretation Searching of blurred pasts and presents Interrupted cohesion dialogue.

Gestalt by Nadine Saitlin: Juror’s Choice

Gestalt took me into worlds of: Ongoing resolved and unresolved curiosities Meaningful, conflicting relationships.

A Painting is Worth a Thousand Words

BRiC (Boca Raton Innovation Campus), 4950 Communications Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Show runs from April 20 thru October 25

Awards & Juror's Remarks

“It was a pure delight and honor to be the judge for the Palm Beach Watercolor Society’s exhibition at the BRiC. Talent was clearly displayed by all the artists. There was a wonderful array of water-based mediums and techniques, intimate subject matters, wonderful compositions, mindful titles, and a pure love of art for art sake!”

For Every Season by Gail Butters-Cohen: 1st

So painterly, and intimate the viewer is brought right in front of the truth. Something is coming, being birthed into our world, and we must take care and protect “this.” Even when our society may be sad or hurting this image reminds us of being human and how magnificent it can be even in times of dark.

Clouds of Leonia by Eileen Shaloum: 2nd

Sweetness and happiness spills out of the canvas creating an imaginary world. Soft plump shades of pink yellows and green fill the surface taking the eye on a magical journey from one canvas to the back, and back again. Layers upon layers allows the viewer to be mesmerized by the technique, color palette, and suggested imagery.

Island Flora by Sally Cooper: 3rd

Light, airy, and fragrant! The playfulness of brushstrokes and energy of the paint create a fresh feeling. The title adding to the essence of what was is already felt intuitively from the canvas. A great balance of color and mark-making.

From Another Time by Mary Martinez: Honorable Mention

The viewer is transported from the glance of the women to another time, a moment in ones memory. Nostalgic and with classical beauty the woman’s’ pose captures all this. The playful watercolor technique merged with the classic pose was a brilliant choice.

Tiger Falls by Betty Lou Barry: Special Recognition

This utopia, a paradise view is a reflection to what we strive for in society and with mother nature. As we look to one another in peace, in harmony, in question with our world; working together side by side we go about our way. Folklike, excellent craftsmanship, and illustration.

Dream Journey by Priscilla Blum Silverberg: Honorable Mention

Pulled straight into what’s just hidden in the shadow. The feeling of wanting to know what’s there, along with the gorgeous textured rock fills the senses and imagination. The painterly brushstrokes juxtaposed to the great tension of the still darkness, moves the viewers eye around the canvas in a hypnotic dreamlike way.

– Lori Arbel, Juror