Tuesday, June 25, 2013

SWS 50th Annual Members Juried Show

Shadow Dancer
11x14

I cannot believe my painting got into the SWS member show.  After I saw all of the entries online, I didn't think my entries were as strong as some of the others.  There were so many interesting techniques, subjects and compositions.  I can't wait to see all of the paintings that were selected.

Something that does concerns me is that the competition is open to water media on paper, including yupo and acrylic.  These do make interesting pieces, but, when one is working with  yupo and acrylic, the possibilities are much different than watercolor alone.  The SWS is a watercolor group.  As an artist that likes painting with transparent watercolor, I wonder if it can compete with acrylics strong colors and the option of being able to paint white on top of other colors.  I know that one can get very interesting results with acrylic on yupo that simply cannot be done with watercolor on paper.  

What is your opinion?  Do you feel that watercolor competitions should be limited to watercolor only?  I realize that there are many more entries when the competition is open to all water media.  But, will a traditional watercolor on paper technique be able to compete?

10 comments:

  1. I agree with your concerns, but as long as the judges are aware of the limitations of each medium it is fine. Your work is fabulous. Great job.

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    1. Thanks AK. Good to hear from you. I hope you have been painting. I will go to your blog.

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  2. I agree as well but then hopefully it will not be judged with the same criteria as other mediums. Your painting is simply beautiful! I was doing a search for " peach watercolors" and it brought me to your blog, so happy that I did! Best of luck with your show!

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    1. Thank you Celia. I hope you found my painting of peaches. It is titled, "Locally Grown".

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  3. Best of luck with your exhibit, Liana. I love shadow dances...he's adorable!!!

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    1. Thank you Hilda. I love the portrait you did of Claire's mother. What a thoughtful gesture.

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  4. They are such different mediums aren't they, unless Acrylics are really watered down and used like watercolour.
    It's a difficult one, but I suppose as long as each is respected in it's own right for it's own qualities... Anyway, I love this one - I'm sure I have seen it before. The colours in the shadows are lovely :0)

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    1. Thank you, Sandra. Good points. You have seen this little boy before. I have posted him and then I ended up using him on the announcement of my last show.

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  5. Congratulations, Liana. I can believe it--it's a beautiful painting: so much bright light! Love the shadows ... and the name.

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  6. Your painting has a well deserved place in such a prestigious show, Liana.
    I have watched with great interest the changes in the watercolor media world. As tastes have changed and the magnitude of painters continues to increase, the search for an individual look has become more important. This is either done by technique, subject matter or materials used. Acrylic was used like oil paints at first by the majority of artists but gradually the liquids have become more popular. We have an artist in town who adds an acrylic dark backgrounds to her transparent watercolor still life and it took me ages to figure out how she did such a marvelous even dark with watercolor until I was told what she used. This artist chose to get the look she wanted with what was now allowed and available. I applaud her experimenting to find her voice.
    I agree with you - It is definitely less of a level playing field any more for pure transparent watercolor work and a lot of what is produced brings it into the more commercial world of decorative art. (Which I like a lot of) How about oil painters having their photo printed on a canvas and coloring it in? The art world is a changing!!!!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave your thoughts. I love hearing from you!