Toby Reid, “Receding”
Best in Show (Masters)
2023 'All About Pastels' Spring Exhibition
Southeastern Pastel Society's 2023 Spring 'All About Pastel' Members Juried Exhibition
In partnership with the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainsville, Georgia
April 20 – June 10, 2023
The SPS Members Only Exhibition titled “All About Pastel” not only demonstrates the versatility of the medium, but it defines the mission: to elevate the pastel medium in the eyes of the art community at large.
Juror of Selection and Awards for “All About Pastel” is Christine Swann, a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. Christine selected 102 paintings from 69 artists out of a submission of 223 paintings. Artists entered only works they had completed in the last two years. The paintings could not have been displayed in any of our prior exhibitions.
As SPS contains artists at many levels of proficiency, we decided to create this exhibition with two categories: Master Division and Member of Excellence/Member Division. Our Master Division was created in December of 2022 and allows the individual to add SPSMP to their signature. The designation indicates the artist has won awards in three of our SPS shows.
We awarded over $7,000 in cash awards and gift prizes.
All of us at SPS re thankful for our Sponsors and those artists who entered the show. For 36 years this organization has produced some gifted pastelists, who have won numerous awards in exhibitions around the world. We hope visitors to “All About Pastel” will walk away with an appreciation for this fabulous medium.
Juror's Comments
Christine Swann is obsessed with people and their stories. In another life she was a graphic designer, but has spent the past 28 years working on portraits in the pastel medium. Although she started out by painting her own children by bribing them with candy, she now works with models. Her “personality portraits” have been recognized in many international exhibitions including the Best of Show, “Prix de Pastel” at the IAPS Master Circle Exhibitions in 2015 and in 2020. A portrait also won Honorable Mention in the Artist Magazine Competition in 2023 and has twice received Awards in the Portrait Society of Americas “Members Only” Competition. Her work has also been included in Invitational Exhibitions in China, Italy and France.
Southwest Art Magazine picked Christine as an “Artist To Watch” and she has been included in the Pastel Journals’ Pastel 100 international exhibition nine times. She is also published in the books, “How Did They Do That? -100 Ways To Paint People and Figures”, “Strokes of Genius” and the French publication, “40 Masters of Pastel.”
Christine is an Eminent Member of the Master Circle of IAPS and a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. She is currently teaching the workshop, “The Power of Pastel” to pastel groups around the country and writes a blog on art, pastel and motherhood at swannportraits.com.
Masters Awards
Best in Show Award (Masters), Toby Reid, Receding
Unbelievable mark making and rhythm to this piece. Rarely have I seen a painting of ocean waves done so well in keeping with the energy of the water. Light is beautifully handled and dances gracefully across the image.
First Place Award (Masters), Ronnie Offen, Illumination
Nostalgia. This painting instantly brought me back to my kids playing with fireworks and the smell and light and heat. I thought of this painting for days after seeing it. A painting that triggers a moment in time is masterful. Unique composition and control.
Second Place Award (Masters), Nancy Nowak, At the Market
Lovely sense of space and light.Unique handling of the medium.
Ron Pircio Third Place Award (Masters) and People’s Choice Award, Connie Reilly, Blue Bird
Unique composition that made me smile.
Members and Members of Excellence Awards
Best in Show (Members/MOE), Orit Reuben, Line Cooks
Beyond great shapes and an interesting composition, this painting is clearly elevated by the way the artist controlled the image to convey the narrative. The darkest shape, the hardest edges and the lightest shape behind the main figures heads channels the image to look here – to see the link between the faces.Everything else is colorful, yes, but it all still takes a backseat to the main story of the 2 figures. This type of control of the image in an artistic way makes it a winner.
First Place (Member/MOE), Eveline Miller, New Beginnings
The texture of this piece is so lovely.Beautiful mark making takes it above just a simple landscape and makes it special.
Second Place Award (Member/MOE), Sharon Lichtenstein, Joyful Oasis
Dynamic use of texture. Powerful image that pulls a viewer in from across the room.
Third Place – Ron Pircio Award (Member/MOE), Madeleine Kelly, Fire Road Revisited
This painting feels like a cold and crunchy-footed walk out in the open air. The limited color palette is highly nuanced and integrated for a harmonious image.
Exception Merit – Mikki Dillon Award (Member/MOE), Anne Spivey, Wired
Exceptional Merit Award, Wendy Devarieux, Terracotta Moment
Merit Award, Hilda Kurtz, Wonder
Honorable Mention, Terry Metzler, Set Fire to the Rain
Honorable Mention, Cathy A Mozley, Chipped and Peeling
Honorable Mention, Rosie Coleman, Gold Beauty
SPS is grateful for our sponsors and partners
