First Place: Chaitanya Alli "Fresh from the Garden"

My inspiration for this painting came to me one day while I was preparing dinner. I had just picked some beautiful ripened tomatoes and I loved the brightness of the red tomatoes glistening in the sunlight against the complementary blue tablecloth. The reflections in the white colander and the shadows, along with the various geometric shapes made me eager to paint this picture. I painted in layers, masking all of my lighter values. I dropped darker value colors on the wet paper, letting the colors mingle. I aimed for the perfect texture on the cloth and placed the diagonal lines to direct the viewer to the tomatoes. I hope the viewers enjoy the painting as much as I did while working on it.

Second Place: Peggy Engells "Sunlight in the Shadows"

“Sunlight in the Shadows” is a new direction for me.  My brush and paints were perhaps controlled subconsciously by the vibration of the world and my life...that in the midst of darkness and shade - transitioning from the space we are in - light beckons hopefully.

Honorable Mention: Barbra Munisteri "Fresh"

My watercolor, Fresh, was done to document the Pandemic of 2020. I made (and am still making) fresh squeezed orange juice every day during the quarantine in an effort to increase our immunity.

Honorable Mention: Maria Rodriquez Alejo "Face Up"

Last year I was lucky to be part of a very long road trip from Houston Texas to northeastern Nevada. The changes in scenery as the trip progressed was impressive. I was amazed by the massive size of the mountains, the stunning canyons and the beauty of the landscape’s colors and shapes. 

Face Up is my interpretation of those big and weird shapes of the Southwest mountains. In this painting I see myself looking up from the floor of a canyon, but also there are shapes that appear to be people or faces…

I used multiple glazes to obtain rich deep shades of reds and oranges. In some areas I applied opaque color on top of wet transparent color creating some fun effects and texture. To add interest, I included patterns that repeat around some areas of the painting. 

Honorable Mention: Reva Powers "Walk with Me 1 Jogger"

I began the “walk with me” series in March 2020 when everything changed.  I discovered a wonderful walking path a block from my house.  The weather was cool.  The sun was shining, and the path was enclosed by trees and bushes creating a feeling of a verdant tunnel.  Like a mysterious, quiet sheltered passageway the light and shadow bounced around as the wind stirred the growth.  Each day I walked at a different time.  I’d stop to take pictures. It was like magic and I was filled with excitement discovering this escape.  So many of the trees in my area have been cut to make room for shopping centers, apartments, schools.  But here, so close to me was a forest, a narrow forest.  With the shutdown, no cars on the road it didn’t matter that the enclosed path was next to a four-lane road. 

I knew I had to paint the feeling.  I had a 9” x 30” strip of watercolor paper.  I wet it and began painting wet into wet to capture the feeling.  The first rendition had only the isolation.  But as my walks continued, I saw bikers, dog-walker and joggers.  I created additional paintings by tearing a full sheet into three 10 x 22 pieces. 

I am so grateful that the “Walk with Me Jogger” was recognized in the September Watercolor Art Society – Houston show. I hope you enjoy walking with me.