The Oil Pastel Society

presents

"Transformation"
2009

From your staff:

The title of the show this year was chosen to highlight the transformation, not only of the Society which has grown in the past five years, but also the quality of artwork presented by the artists. During those years each of us has grown more aware of the versatility of this unique medium, oil pastel. The use of more abstract techniques has peeked the interest of many who also work in mixed media, oil sticks and encaustic.

This year's show has also been transformed into two categories for awards. The Professional/Signature Category and the Associate Category. Entries from both were fairly equal in number.

Special thanks to Wendell Dennis, our Awards Judge for this year's event. Below he shares his overall criteria for judging and comments about the top prize winners. I found his criteria an excellent self critique method for my own paintings.

Most of all, our thanks go out to all of you, the members who have supported the Society thru five years of  "transformation".  This year's show is proof enough of the growth and excellence that artists can achieve with oil pastels, and we know it will be an inspiration to all our viewers.

Patricia Isaac - Professional Panel
Rebecca McConnell - Website
Carly Hardy - Co-ordinator

Meet The Awards Judge:

Wendell Dennis is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Montreal. He has taught scenic painting at the National Theatre School of Canada and has been a set and costume designer for such institutions as Les Grande Ballets Canadiens, Le Theatre du Rideau Vert and others. After a rewarding career in theatre Wendell has returned to Prince Edward Island and resides in the charming community of Victoria by the Sea. Infused with light and strong values, his rich oil paintings softly glow from the linen on which he paints.

For a look at Mr. Dennis' work, please click here.

Comments from Wendell Dennis:

It has been a pleasure to serve as judge for "Transformation", the 2009 Oil Pastel Society show. With over a hundred varied and skilful entries, it was also a challenge.
 
In an effort to be as objective as possible, I worked on the criteria for judging before seeing the entries. These criteria were:
    1) The basics - including:
            Colour - use of hue, temperature and intensity as well as colour harmony.
            Values - contrasts of darks, midtones and lights.
            Depiction of light - handling of shadows and highlights.
            Drawing - rendering of lines and forms.
            Texture - handling of different textures.
    2) Composition - the use and placement of the basic elements in the picture plane.
    3) Mastery of the medium - using the techniques of oil pastels to present the possibilities of this versatile medium at its best.
    4) Visual impact - originality, subject and interpretation of the mood and feeling.
Each entry was judged on the basis of these criteria.
 
David Berridge's impressive "Silver Bay", with its subtle use of broken colour to depict the glowing light, captured First Place in the Professional / Signature category. It is a superb example of what an artist can achieve with oil pastels. One can almost hear the music in the Second Place painting, "Tango Dancers" by Connie Chadwell. The rhythmic use of lines gives this expressive painting its great sense of movement. Stephanie Neely's stunning mastery of the oil pastel medium shows through in "Ephemera", which was awarded Third Place. Her use of contrasting textures and negative spaces as well as lost and found edges work well in this large painting.
 
In the Associates category, First Place went to "Two Horse Power", an outstanding painting by Anita Gersch. The use of strong diagonals in the composition helps give visual impact to this masterful interpretation. Ed Brothers showed his knowledge of the subject in "Salmon Brook Canoe", which took Second Place. The strong composition and treatment of the rocks and water along with his skilled craftsmanship are striking in this small painting. Who can resist the charm of Allan Wai Shing Mak's delightful painting "PD", which took Third Place? The eye is drawn pleasantly through the complex composition to the unexpected surprises within.
 
It was especially difficult to select the Honourable Mentions as so many entries were worthy of them.
 
I wish to thank the Oil Pastel Society for giving me the opportunity and honour of judging this year's show. A special thank you goes to Carly Hardy for her help and hard work on behalf of the Society.

Wendell Dennis 


 

The Award Winners

Professional/Signature Category

First Place - "Silver Bay by David Berridge

Second Place - "Tango Dancers" by Connie Chadwell

Third Place - "Ephemera" by Stephanie Neely

Honorable Mention - "North of Depoe Bay" by Gary Michael

Honorable Mention - "Morgan Lane" by Wendy Manning

Honorable Mention - "Insectiflora" by Rita Naras

Associate Category

First Place - "Two Horse Power" by Anita Gersch

Second Place - "Salmon Brook Canoe" by Ed Brothers

Third Place - "PD" by Allan Wai Shing Mak

Honorable Mention - "Portrait of M" by Emma-Jane Rosenberg

Honorable Mention - "Snowfire" by Sam Hoppe

Honorable Mention - "Like Jewels" by Thomas K. Mammen

 

Click Here to view the Professional/Signature Category

Click Here to view the Associate Category