Each month, the winners are asked to share a few words about their experiences associated with their paintings. Below, we present what they shared.
Second Place β The Irises by Peihong Endris
The Irises has been always my favorite subject. It is so elegant and beautiful. I use the free style techniques on rice paper. Itβs an expression of my passion on the painting.
Third Place β Backgammon at the University Club by Bill Curtis
Since attempting watercolor 4 years ago I have been able to begin seeing color, contrast, value and in composition in ways, perhaps that were not catching my attention before. The paintings are the reward for these observations. This was so recently when attending a University Club event and I entered the grand library with its big Fifth Avenue windows and colorful collection of books. Small game tables contrasted with the larger room and in themselves revealed their own texture and paintable details. The hanging braided light fixtures afforded compositional focus to the game and value contrast to the darkness and book texture. I had to try it as a painting.
Honorable Mention β Flower Power by Larry Spitzberg
The challenge here was to take a detailed photo and go less detailed as the eye travels from foreground to background and give a flower path or eye path to the two figures. I probably painted and repainted areas in the same painting two or three times.
