Shows
The entry fee is $35. Accepted mediums are watercolors, acrylics, and water-based inks.
The Truth in Art | Watercolors and Acrylics
Take-in: Monday, March 24,2025 from 9:30 – 11:00 am
Pick-Up: March 2026
Reception: BRiC on thursday, March 27th from 5:00 – 6:30
Judge's Statement
To the PB Watercolor Society:
- Thank you for the opportunity to judge this show.
- I truly enjoyed spending time with such delightful and varied paintings!
- Deciding among so many good pieces of art which should win awards is a difficult task, and as you all know is subjective and in no way a reflection of the talent and worth of the pieces not chosen.
- However, I made my decision on a combination of factors: composition, originality, use of color, variety of brushstrokes, and last but not least: impact.
Awards
1st: Judy Nunno – “Waiting”
This painting has a strong visual impact, created by the overlapping shapes, the contrasting colors and impasto use of paint.
There is great variety in the way the paint is manipulated and layered.
The branches cutting across the top and more subtly throughout the painting create movement and soften the organic forms at the center of interest. The painting is also enhanced by the small playful shapes toward the bottom, whose colors are softly repeated in the background.
Congratulations to all the winners and I sincerely wish I would have been able to give more awards.
2nd: – Karen H Salup – “Traveling Through the Forest”
There is strong visual impact in the center of interest, created by the dynamic brushstrokes and the strong, contrasting colors. The soft violets and dancing strokes radiating from the main subject allow the eye to travel throughout the painting. There viewer is engaged by interpreting the suggested shapes and bold use of paint.
3rd: – Karen Curtis – “Fête de Femme”
This is a small but mighty painting! The more one looks, the more one sees.
The figures are well drawn, the colors harmonious, and the story quite intriguing. Everything works well together, and even the negative shapes between the figures and chandeliers add to create interest.
Honorable Mention – Jeanne Landau-Cohen- “Flowers One”
An exciting cityscape with a pleasing and gentle palette that created a visual interest that drew me in. I felt you could almost feel the energy of a busy city in the bold brushstrokes and textures.
Honorable Mention – Reggie Lerman – “Invisible Man”
An exciting cityscape with a pleasing and gentle palette that created a visual interest that drew me in. I felt you could almost feel the energy of a busy city in the bold brushstrokes and textures.
JR: – Ann Piekarz – “
A wonderful variety of mark making, luminous greens, and a lot of interest in the main subject, which makes you want to look closer and spend time exploring the subtle colors and marks.
The Art in Me | Watercolors and Acrylics
January 22 – March 5, 2025
Judge's Statement
“It has been inspiring to experience the remarkable talent and creativity showcased in the “Art in
Me” exhibition. The talent and dedication evident in every work reflect not only artistic excellence but also a deep passion
for the craft. As the judge, I am deeply moved by the unique perspectives and artistic voices that have come together in
this space. I am amazed by the unique perspectives and techniques brought to life by these talented individuals. The
Delray Beach Creative Arts School is honored to host this exhibition and to provide a place where artists can share their
work, connect with the community, and inspire us all. We are proud to celebrate their artistry and look forward to
continuing to champion the creative spirit that makes our community so vibrant.”– Gina Carter
Awards
1st: Judy Nunno – “Waiting” This first-place-winning piece is a mesmerizing portrait that captures the soul and essence of its subject with breathtaking realism. Each delicate brushstroke weaves a story of time, resilience, and quiet grace as if the artist has
gently brought life onto the paper. The sheer mastery of technique, paired with an undeniable emotional depth, makes this portrait a beautiful testament to the beauty of the human spirit.
2nd: Lee Krull – “Mosaic Muse” This painting caught my eye and piqued my interest in the varied and sumptuous patterning. While the image is almost instantly recognizable, I was still fascinated at looking at the colors and patterns.
3rd: Janet Kaplan – “Kaleidoscope” –This composition uses greens and more greens, freezing a moment rich in textures. Leaves, light, and light wind vibrate and add to the texture of this painting, fixed in a moment for our contemplation.
Honorable Mention – Elaine Litvak – “City Street” An exciting cityscape with a pleasing and gentle palette that created a visual interest that drew me in. I felt you could almost feel the energy of a busy city in the bold brushstrokes and textures.
Honorable Mention – Bobbin Salisbury – “Bouton d’ Or” The stylized flower in vibrant hues of warm colors set against the very fluid cool background drew me in to discover all the nuances and textures. A beautifully rendered abstract image that left me with a sense of infinite interpretations and wonder.”
JR: – Linda Landers – “Grateful” This delicate and quiet painting, beckoned to me like a precious jewel. The precise and careful rendering of the foliage set against the billowy and bright flower petals invited me in to take a moment to admire its quiet beauty.
My World in Color
Take-in: Friday, January 31, from 9:30-11:00
Pick-Up: Friday, February 28, from 9:30-11:00
Reception: Tuesday, February, 11, 2025 5:00-6:30
Judge's Statement
“My overall impression: Bravo to all of the artists! Thank you PBWS. Thank you all for being bold, creative and putting yourselves into art to share with the world. I am honored to have been selected to judge this beautiful show. It is with humility I present my choices – while you may not have received an award, I hope that my explantations helps understand my reasoning. I also appreciate again as in all of my choices that I felt a personality in the artwork – they were not just and order taker but went beyond their subject to let me see a piece of their soul. Who could ask anything more from an artist and their works? This was not an easy exhibition to judge! I honestly wish I could give out 5+ more awards of paintings I thought extremely worthy of receiving one. Sadly I had to limit my choices to the following selections.” – Jan Guarino
1st: Ann Waters – “Zen Garden” “It starts with my own love and romance with water lilies combined with a visit to Giverney to experience Monet’s garden in person. But this painting goes beyond the subject to guide the eye to experience a combination of moving back in space adding intrigue to the perspective while offering a glimpse of foreground with the weeping branches. The use of the bright greens take us through the journey making this painting exciting, painterly and a total feast for the eye.”
Awards
2nd: Marilyn Liedman – ” The Pride of Africa” “This piece drew me in immediately. I wanted to explore every corner of this painting – I FELT the habitat of the lions and I wondered it was that had caught their attention. The brush strokes are masterfully done – the way the light hits the landscape and the animals are settled into a shady spot that is repeated on the very top… what?? That’s right on the very top and bottom are these cooler areas and it is masterfully done. I’m lost in this painting wanting to explore the wild.”
3rd: Susan List – “We Have Roses” “This painting could easily convert me from my beloved water colors into trying acrylics. The use of blues,
yellows and pinks to depict the white flowers only to be dramatized further with the deep greens is nothing short of sheer delight . The composition is actually quite intriguing the way the top flowers are placed and broken into the front blossoms cascading down the center of the canvas. It works so painterly – Something I adore.
Honorable Mention – Lee Krull – “One In Every Crowd” “On first glance you can see the artist’s ability to control the medium with ease. Going beyond their incredible command of watercolors, the more I stayed with this painting the greater the appreciation for how the artist “bridged the palette” – using all the colors to the inside of the sunflowers adding an unexpected color combination as well as introducing a unique pattern. I just love seeing that in a painting – how an artist can bring together all the colors into areas that it actually isn’t. ”
Honorable Mention – Saundra Newman – “Dog Night” “I was so engaged with this painting because of the unique and strong composition from the top horizontal right, across to the floral wallpaper to the gold into the strong angle of the couch completing it with the bend of her arm and hand. Even to the bright blue on the lower left. It kept my eye moving throughout the piece wanting to understand more of what the artist did to move my eye the way it did.”
Judges Choice: – Trish Kahn – “Love That Sunshine” This delicate and quiet painting, beckoned to me like a precious jewel. The precise and careful rendering of the foliage set against the billowy and bright flower petals invited me in to take a moment to admire its quiet beauty.
Life is Art | Watercolors Only
Take-in: Tuesday, November 26, from 10-11:30
Pick-Up: Monday, December 30, from 10-11:30
Reception: Saturday, December 7, from 12-2
(The Parkland Library) 6620 N. University Drive, Parkland, FL 33067
Judge's Statement
I want to thank the Palm Beach Watercolor Society for inviting me to judge their exhibition at the Parkland Library. It is an honor and pleasure to be a judge, allowing me to view the many works of some of their members, who present various styles and motifs painted in watercolor.
They are all technically gifted and produce excellent work, which made it difficult for me to choose them for this award. I congratulate the artists for their desire for this artistic expression and for achieving excellent results with this sensitive medium. Because of this diversity of
creative expression, I committed to looking at them as a spectator to express my feelings and emotions in front of these works.
Awards
1st: Pauline Runkle – “Sunset On The Back Shore” An explosion of brushstrokes defines and makes visible the light of the end of the day somewhere in the distance. These beautiful brushstrokes contrast with the reflections of the water and its rocks, where the precise ones and some more are freely executed to reveal a poetic form of the coastline at sunset.
2nd: Lee Krull – “Caribbean Carver”The subject of this artwork has a natural spirit, complemented by the artist’s watercolor technique and lightness— a mastery of the method that defines the theme of the composition with its simplicity to portray the day of a craftsman.
3rd: Ann Piekarz – “St. Remy Du Provence” This composition uses greens and more greens, freezing a moment rich in textures. Leaves, light, and light wind vibrate and add to the texture of this painting, fixed in a moment for our contemplation.
Honorable Mention – Mac Johnson – “Light Of The Morning” Like a moment of hope for the future, the day is illuminated by a tree branch that sprouts from this dense garden, making the buds of a new plant visible.
Honorable Mention – Jeanne Landau – “Morning Light” When I saw this piece, it was untitled. It is like an intimate and routine domestic scene revealed through a window, examining a poetic nocturnal atmosphere. The dense application of colors reinforces this atmosphere.
JR: – Bobbin Salisbury – “Loc En Season D’Automme” The masterful superimposition of transparencies evokes different themes of interest to the
observer, who can delve into these layers of color that softly suggest a coastline on the horizon, a mountain range, or an abstract composition where color transparency dominates with its lightness.
The Colors of My World
NOVEMBER 15TH – March 19,2025
JURIED SHOW AT THE BRiC
Awards
1st: Nadine Saitlin; “Red Desert” – I chose this piece because of the complexity of the composition. The design is complex which keeps me engaged in the painting and makes me want to explore more. The other elements in the design add to the emotional content which was brought to life and emphasized by the use of the warm hues, the value shifts, and the variety of shapes that make up the composition.
2nd: Mac Johnson; “Remember These Shores” – The work caught my attention because of the drama of the sunrise/sunset that was presented and expressed in this piece. Beautifully crafted and composed and the use of a complimentary colors palette adds to the emotional content.
3rd: Karen H. Salup; “Violet Limelight” – The hardest part of painting in abstraction is how does one keep the viewers’ attention and interest in the painting for a prolonged time. This painting has a complexity of forms, hues and movement creating a very emotional painting, as well as the required foreground, middle ground and background giving it a great sense of depth and strength.
Honorable Mention: Tamara Seymour; “Date Palm at Dusk” – I chose this piece for its handling of color, unusual layout and the complexity of the design. This does not look like a typical watercolor in terms of concentration of pigment and the layering of the hues to get more depth and interest in the work.
Jeanne Landau Cohen; “Monumentum” – Often watercolorist work in small scale but this piece made me take notice and it reached out to me and told me to take notice and explore. The freshness that was preserved in working in a large scale was accomplished by the total loose application of the brush marks and color selection.
Juror’s Choice: Adrienne Walker “In The Eye Of The Beholder” – I chose this piece because of the humorous reaction it
elicited from me. The graphic approach, the textures applied, the palette used make this an exciting portrait interpretation. I want to meet the subject of this piece and I am sure I would enjoy meeting her.
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.
