Judge’s Statement

Congratulations! Jurying this show was a challenge and an inspiration. There were so many wonderful entries in a wide range of genres and subjects. To select one hundred out of 276, I went to the basics first: clean presentation, solid composition, drawing, value, color, and edges. Then I looked for mastery of the medium: the marks, blends, gradients and textures. After this, I considered innovativeness. If any "rules" were bent, was it effective? Lastly, I measured the impression, the mood, or the story being told. Once the top one hundred were selected, I judged based on the same criteria, with a view toward expressiveness and impact. As for myself, I loved spending time with your art, seeing how you used these beautiful pastels, each of you with your unique perspective. Thank you for being your authentic selves. To all who have a piece in this show, congratulations; the competition was amazing! To all who entered, kudos for taking that step, and I hope you'll do it again. Every opportunity is a learning experience, and it all adds up. Ask anyone! Thank you all for bringing your creativity to the world. I'm honored to be witness to it. --Mark Ivan Cole, PSA/IAPS-MC