The Oil Pastel Society
presents
"Emerging 2007"
From your staff:
What an honor to present the Third Annual Members Show for the Oil Pastel Society!
We want to thank Sakura Color Products of America, Inc. for its continued support in sponsoring an Award of Excellence this year.
And, most of all, our thanks go out to the members who have
supported the Society this year, as well as in the past three years.
Some of you have been with us from the beginning and it's exciting to see what's
been accomplished during that time! The quality of this year's show is
outstanding! and we know it will be an inspiration to all our viewers.
Patricia Isaac - Professional Panel
Rebecca McConnell - Website
Ann Tucker - Newsletter
Carol Zack - Newsletter
Carly Clements - Membership
Meet The Awards Juror:
Deborah
Christiansen Secor
EDUCATION / POSITIONS
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts, California State College, Bakersfield,
1979
Albert Handell Workshops, ongoing studies, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1988 to 1994
Professional Artist, showing and selling primarily in the southwestern US since
1979
Teacher, pastel painting for adults, classes and workshops, 1989 to present
Writer, The Pastel Journal, 1999 to present
SELECTED HONORS
2007, Contributor to 'Painting with Pastels' by Maggie Price
2005, "Nighttime City", chosen for inclusion in Pure Color: The Best of Pastel
2000, "Mad Red Sunset" top 100, Experimental Category, The Artist's Magazine
Competition
2000, The Artist's Magazine Calendar Selection
1999, "Early Canyon" Top 100, Landscape Category, The Artist's Magazine
Competition
MEMBERSHIPS
Founding Member of The Pastel Society of New Mexico, 1989
Member of The Pastel Society of New Mexico, 1989 to present
Signature Member, Pastel Society of New Mexico, 1999
ARTIST STATEMENT
I believe we are all given gifts from God and it's up to us to use them to do
God's work. As I paint I experience the glory of our Lord's creation, and try to
imbue each one with a bit of His spirit, serenity or joy, imperfectly translated
through my talent.
My work is a culmination of 25 years' experience in painting the landscape
distilling the shapes and colors to their essence. I paint landscapes clearly
derived from reality but made charismatic with lively strokes of pastel. I like
to swipe at the paper with purples and yellows, creating mountains and sky, then
add calligraphic touches that shimmer and sparkle as light.
I want to lead my viewer to a greater understanding of the awesome and inspiring
landscape all around us, or the simple dignity of one of God's creatures, by
painting and by teaching others how to paint.
Visit Deborah's Website to view more of her work
"Sunstruck City" by Deborah Christensen Secor
Deborah's Comments About the Show
Judging the paintings presented in the 2007 Oil Pastel Society Show has
been both enjoyable and challenging for me. The theme of this year's show,
'Emerging', assisted me in choosing the top award winners. Indeed, the winning
entries seem to do more than hang against the digital wall but emerge as
striking works of art. They meet the universal criteria for excellence in
painting, utilizing outstanding composition, color, value contrast and mood. You
will see that the ones chosen for the top awards have these elements in common,
though very little else.
There's a great variety of original artwork presented in this show,
representing virtually every category of work, from still life to landscape to
portraits and animals. The great versatility of oil pastel is showcased here.
There seems not to be any one overriding school of art or subject represented,
but a great diversity of interests. All in all, I think the paintings in this
show are a bellwether of the medium: diverse, varied and wide-ranging, truly
emerging as an accepted fine art medium.
I prefer a painting that spurs my imagination or stirs my feelings, even sacrificing technique to mood if that choice accomplishes the task. For instance, the Best of Show, 'You Were Here', was awarded to a soulful, lyric painting that uses a very limited palette and strong contrasts, not to mention a remarkably strong composition that draws the eye unavoidably into the painting. I find myself wondering what the woman portrayed in 'MO3' is about to say. Her direct gaze, the delicate skin tones and skillfully used lost and found edges complete the impression, while negative shapes carry the day, directing the eye with the bold dark strap. Strong varieties of shape and incisive color are the compelling agents of 'Blue Glass', while complex but quiet details move the eye to the righ reds in 'Luna Hibiscus', and the odd angles and cold reflections of 'Winter Night' conjure up a story of the two people there.
The overall quality of this show is arresting and I congratulate all of the participants. Thank you for honoring me as Judge this year.
Deborah Secor
June, 2007
The Award Winners
Best of Show - 'You Were Here' by Shelley Schoenherr
First Place - 'MO 3' by Virginia Tupper
Second Place - 'Blue Glass' by Patricia Isaac
Third Place - 'Luna Hibiscus II' by Rosemarie D'Alba
Sakura Award of Excellence - 'Winter Night' by Susan Ross Donohue
Honorable Mention Awards
'Letchworth Park' by Jennifer Wambach
'Roses From The Garden' by Maureen McKee
'The Hills of Warren Arizona' by David Berridge
'Red Linoleum' by Marilyn Brandenburger
'Untitled 1' by Dr. Kent Whitaker
'Down Broadway' by Ed Brothers
'Cinnabar' by Stephanie Neely
'Anclote Key Light' by Charles J. Wood