The Oil Pastel Society

"Versatility"

The 2006 Members Show

The Second Annual Members' Show, "Versatility", consisted of 101 entries from 54 Society Members.

"Versatility 2006" not only recognized the international community of artists who utilize oil pastels, but also represented a vast array of techniques and styles which can be accomplished with oil pastels as a fine art medium. The 2006 show title was suggested by Ann Tucker, our newsletter editor, to represent the "versatility" of the oil pastel medium.  A round of applause to all of the following members who participated in "Versatility"

Shoshana Avramovitz Gail Higginbotham Vatcharaporn Plewtianyingthawee
David Berridge Patricia Isaac Ron Pollack
Doris Bettin Elaine Juska Keeley Chris Price
Marilynn Brandenburger David M Kazee Shelley G Schoenherr
Patricia G Brinson Clemmie King Alexander Semenko
Bill Burgin Stephanie Koslow

                             Linda Shantz
Pamela Burton Rita Naras Kreitz

                       George H Shipperley
Christophe Cardot Amber L Lowe DesireeJ Sterbini
Carolyn Carner Thomas K Mammen Luba Sterlikova  
Connie Chadwell Wendy Manning Sarah Theophilus  
Bonnie Clement Rebecca McConnell Raquel Tripp-Tamayo  
Carly Hardy Clements Maureen C McKee Ann Tucker  
Joan P Crice Joanne R Meyer Virginia Tupper  
Rosemarie D'Alba Charlotte Moore Jennifer Wambach  
Janet DeLonga Stephanie Neely Lynne D Whitsel  
Kathleen Flaherty Ann Nichols Kathryn Wilson  
Janet Fons Nancy Perry Charles J Wood  
Marie T Harris Cindy Betzer Pharis Carol Zack  
       

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Meet Susan Bennerstrom - Awards Judge                

A Statement from Susan

   I thoroughly enjoyed jurying the Oil Pastel Society’s On-line Show, and I was excited to see the range and depth of work being done in this wonderful but under-appreciated medium. Oil pastel is a medium still in its infancy. Artists have benefited from centuries of experimentation in oil paint, watercolor, ink, soft pastels, and other materials, whereas in many ways we are pioneers – inventing our own techniques and modes of expression with these sticks of oil and wax and pigment. Congratulations to all of you not only for making such fine work, but also for being your own trailblazers. Congratulations as well for submitting yourselves to the jurying process – always a nerve-racking adventure, but a necessary one in the life of an artist.

Judging a show such as this one is an inspiring as well as slightly distressing experience – I carefully viewed each painting many times, and wished I could have included more than eleven in the Honorable Mention list. The top awards took their places rather quickly, but each of the remaining paintings had at least one element that made it stand out.

The paintings that continued to hold up over the course of many viewings were the ones that combined good composition, excellent use of materials, interesting concept or idea, and a fresh approach. Even the most traditional subject matter can be turned into a wonderful painting if the artist looks beyond the obvious and brings his or her own soul and unique way of seeing the world into the work. Mammen’s
Wooddale Fall is a perfect example of this notion: the complex composition incorporating a riot of colors and elements could have turned into chaos, but instead it makes a brave and harmonious statement. Mammen doesn’t shrink from experimentation, and boldly makes use of line, rhythm, and color. Brandenburger’s Full Moon, Harris’ Blue Symphony, and Berridge’s Three Sisters also exemplify all of these elements, but in very different ways. Neely’s luscious Royal Hibiscus demonstrates how versatile oil pastels can be, Tucker’s
Waiting for Sushi is full of energy and Hopper-esque atmosphere, and Price’s surreal Risk is seething with ideas.

Thank you again for this opportunity to view some stunning work!

Susan Bennerstrom
June 18, 2006

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Susan Bennerstrom works full-time as an artist. Her works in oil and chalk pastel have been exhibited in solo shows in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, New York, and Ireland, and she is represented by Davidson Galleries in Seattle, and Terrence Rogers Fine Art in Los Angeles. She has received many awards, including a Pollock-Krasner Award in 2004, A Ballinglen Arts Foundation Fellowship (Ireland) in 2005, and two Artist Trust GAP Grants. Her work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Whatcom Museum, Western Washington University, the U. of WA. Medical Center, Microsoft, and the Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ireland. She teaches workshops at the Whatcom Museum, LaConner Art Workshops, Pratt Fine Art Center (Seattle), Westcott Bay Institute (San Juan Island), and Ballyhugh Art & Culture Centre (Ireland). The U. of WA Press and Davidson Galleries published a monograph on her work in 2000. She has also sung for 30 years in the Whatcom Chorale, and is an enthusiastic canoe racer.


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May 25th, 2006, marked the deadline for submissions and June 30th, 2006, marks not only the opening date for "Versatility" but the Second Annual Society Show to be presented online for the oil pastel medium! To give you an idea of what took place in the background......

....and now for the Award Selections

 

"Versatility"
The Second Annual Oil Pastel Society Members Show
2006

 


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