Special Thanks to Bigfork Art and Cultural Center for Hosting Watermedia 2018
Watermedia 2018 Juror’s Gallery Talk
Bev Jozwiak, Juror of 2018 Watermedia Show giving comments during the Reception at the Bigfork Art and Culture Center Reception.
1st Place A Walk in the Park by Ken Call
2nd Place Perk Up by Cindy Brabec-King
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Bev Jozwiak’s discussion of how she selects and looks at art for a show was an extension of her Juror’s statement in the show catalog. She especially reiterated that if you were not selected to remember it is one artist’s (that respective juror) opinion and no reflection on your work. She herself have had paintings not accepted in one show and win awards in another. Never despair and keep at it!
She also marveled how she can be delighted when she sees the work in person for the first time. She mentioned a couple of paintings that (pleasantly) surprised her when she saw the size compared to the impression she made looking at the digital image. Her basic concepts that she looks for in a painting are originality of the subject, good clean color and the dominance of color. She also talked about the design of the pieces speaking to her. And then she said it basically boils down to a “gut instinct”! 1st Place Gold A Walk in the Park by Ken Call Bev said the minute she walked into the gallery and saw this painting it was "hands down" the winner to her. She talked about the design and beautiful color but said the looseness was also appealing. (She said more but it was drowned out by the murmuring and applauding group in the gallery) 2nd Place Silver Perk Up by Cindy Brabec-King Bev liked everything about this painting, well painted, the design and all the details. She said it took her a bit to recognize the subject because she was caught by the well-done composition. Then the title made sense! 3rd Place Bronze Llama Drama by Ilene Paulsen Bev loved this one when she saw it online and thought it was cute. But when she saw it in person, it really hit her! All the wonderful texture of the metal and the wool of the animal. 
The rest of her comments on various other award recipients reinforced her initial comments in this article but what I feel came across was her delight in seeing paintings that “hit” her. She felt our whole show was an great example of that!
3rd Place Llama Drama by Ilene Paulsen
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Awards Continued
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Merit Award Recipients
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Merchandise Award Recipients
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$1000 Gold Award & Medallion
Artist: Ken Call Title: A Walk in the Park $750 Silver Award & Medallion Artist: Cindy Brabec-King Title: Perk Up $600 Bronze Award & Medallion Artist: Ilene Paulsen Title: Llama Drama $500 MTWS Founders’ Award Artist: Carol McSweeney Title: As One $500 MTWS President’s Award Artist: Ann Pember Title: Exalted $500 Nancy Beelman Award Artist: Carol Spurgeon Title: El Salvador $100 MTWS Board of Director’s Award Artist: Devorah Friedman Title: The Blue Cap $100 Margo Voermans’ Award Artist: Bob Witte Title: Monsieur Renard $100 Chris Twardowski Memorial Award Artist: Gordon Zuelke Title: Behind the Wheel of a ’59 Pontiac |
$100 Dick Blick Award
Artist: Christine Alfery Title: Twirling $50 Dick Blick Award Artist: Susan Keith Title: Crabapple Harvest $50 Dick Blick Award Artist: Claire Bischoff Title: Secret Waterfall $50 Golden Paints Award Artist: Karen Bakke Title: Medora Bison $50 Golden Paints QoR Watercolor Award Artist: Karen Leigh Title: Hidden Meaning $50 Graham/C2J Watercolor Award Artist: Jean Hand Triol Title: View From a High Ridge $50 Strathmore Watercolor Paper Award Artist: Charlotte Peterson Title: Purple Rain $50 Strathmore Watercolor Paper Award Artist: Linda Olsen Title: Integrity $25 University of Montana Bookstore Award Artist: Don Taylor Title: Worn and Weathered $25 Creative Catalyst Award Artist: Tonya Burdine Title: Egyptian Goose $25 Creative Catalyst Award Artist: Marjorie Harper Title: Where the Boys Are—Bighorn Rams |
All Merit & Merchandise Awards, other than MTWS President’s Award, selected by Juror Bev Jozwiak