2018 Texas Members Show Award Winners!

Texas Member Show Award Winners
l-r Nancy Boren, Jing Zhao, Tanja Gant, Lenore Prudhomme, Juan Cantavella

It is with great pleasure that I announce the award winners of our very first Texas Members Exhibition. Each photo includes comments by our wonderful judge, Tina Garrett.

It was a real privilege to be invited to judge the First Texas Portrait Society Member’s Exposition. This is the first PSoA show I’ve been invited to judge and I fully understand and respect all the judges who have had to chose winners in the shows I’ve been in. There are many factors that helped me decide which paintings to select as winners and a couple works that I wish I could have fitted into this list of top 5 out of 75. Overall I looked for an understanding of the medium, hints that works were composed and not only replications of photos, accurate drawing and value understanding and interesting color and brushwork. I appreciate everyone’s work and their bravery in entering a juried show and I hope all the artists will keep working on their own paths to mastery. The world needs more artists and can never have enough great art! -Tina Garrett

AWARDS 

Honorable Mention: Juan Cantavella, Looking Forward

There were some lovely works to chose from and the subtle color and attention to detail and accurate drawing gave this one the edge. 

3rd Place: Lenore Prudhomme, Acacia

This is a beautiful study. The fresh brushwork and splashes of color were delightful to look at up close in this piece. I kept zooming in to see the magic.

2nd Place: Tanja Gant, Sienna 

There is a beautiful peacefulness achieved in this tender drawing. I appreciate the simple composition and the illusion of gentle form and I love the execution of the reflected light on her jaw. I would love to see this artist's most recent works. 

1st Place: Jing Zhao, Check My Phone First

There is a lot that can be said with a suggestion and for me, that always wins over a rendering. So many artists torture the brushwork to death leaving a static and uninteresting surface. I loved the simple yet confident brushwork and the concentrated chroma in this lovely work. All of this supports her posture and the mood. It is excellent. 

Best of Show: Nancy Boren, Queen of the Mirabella

There is so much to entertain in this work with its fabulous color and mark making. I held this one aside from the start and compared all others to it. It is a high bar and I hope all the artists who attend will take a moment to look closely at it in person and enjoy the power of its simplicity, flavor, and energy. Well done!