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| Country Road Farmhouse 18 x 24 Oil on Canvas by Maria Milazzo, 1st Place DECEMBER |
Maria has won the HOLIDAY SIZED prize of a $350 VISA card for her efforts in Iowa over the holidays. Thanks to everyone who painted, and congratulations to Nicola Dalbenzio who also won a $100 Visa card as the Popular Vote Winner.
Judges Notes on Maria's painting.
-Her simplistic approach is very refreshing. I love the multiple perspectives and the glowing horzon line of the wheat fields. The home appears quiet yet inviting. I love the Hopperesk style.
-very creative and probably looks great at 18x24.
- hand's down my favorite. I like her stylistic, imaginative approach.
- Melinda Brown's w/c would be my 2nd choice. The vivid colors and composition work well with the subject.
-David Zimmerman -- . . for his beautiful colors in his landscape, and his treatment of the sky and the clouds.
-Carmen Beecher - did a sweet little painting with good perspective, detail and color.
-Carol Schiff's - has beautiful brushwork and I like the cool green shadows on the lawn.
Other judges didn't leave comments or asked that I not share comments. But speaking OF comments, there were MANY (ok well a few, but relative to the size of the contest . . many) comments about the Digital Canvas entry. Most comments asked "what IS a digital canvas?" To which I answered to the best of my knowledge it is "created with digital paintbrushes in a software program, from a blank page, not a copy of an image"
The digital canvas entry got a conditional vote or two, that in the end worked against the entry because the conditions were that they liked it but if it was created with a computer program, then they couldn't vote for it.
-Carmen Beecher - did a sweet little painting with good perspective, detail and color.
-Carol Schiff's - has beautiful brushwork and I like the cool green shadows on the lawn.
Other judges didn't leave comments or asked that I not share comments. But speaking OF comments, there were MANY (ok well a few, but relative to the size of the contest . . many) comments about the Digital Canvas entry. Most comments asked "what IS a digital canvas?" To which I answered to the best of my knowledge it is "created with digital paintbrushes in a software program, from a blank page, not a copy of an image"
The digital canvas entry got a conditional vote or two, that in the end worked against the entry because the conditions were that they liked it but if it was created with a computer program, then they couldn't vote for it.
Digital Canvas 4000 x 1800 pixels
by Julian Menet
Here's the Google Street View
I have tried digital painting, it isn't easy. One must admit that as an example of this sort of work, Julien's is great! I did approve of the entry prior to the submission. We had this conversation and it is my belief that while many others do NOT consider it painting, I think it is just a new medium and so I let it into the contest knowing that MY opinion doesn't matter . . . the fans and judges would decide if they liked it or not.
We can discuss this if you like. Maybe on FaceBook discussion tab. Perhaps this sort of painting would be more readily accepted if there were a "video" or step by step look at how it is done. Starting with a blank page and clicking on "paintbrush" to have it "spray" paint where you want it is not the same as starting with a real paintbrush and a canvas, but it isn't cut/paste art either.
I will continue to invite artists of all mediums into the contest. If any submission lacks the integrity to win over the artists in this challenge, then so be it. The art world will speak for itself. Considering all of the miscommunication taking place lately, the heated rhetoric that is beginning to direct peoples actions toward violence . . . I have a feeling that a group of artists from all walks of life can have genuine communication about differences of opinion and none of us will resort to Heated Rhetoric . . . What do you say?
