Signature Member Exhibit at Creative Alliance

First Place: Hard Rock, Soft Citrus by Frank Spino

It’s a bold and inviting painting. The wedges are the clear focal point, which is achieved through intense/ saturated colors (the pulp) that are framed by subdued lighter colors (the rind).

Personally, I do not find black backgrounds appealing. But in this artwork, Frank has provided textures that contrast with the fruit, a background that pulsates at a different level that the fruit, tonal and color temperature differences, all of which provide depth.

Second Place: Orange Journey by Gloria Tsang Fisher

This is a painting with a strong graphic presence.

Great rhythm is provided by an echoing pattern of very subdued warm palette of round and square symbols, which allows the viewer’s eyes to stay or always return and admire the focal elements that are seemingly "cascading" towards the floor.

Interesting that every fruit is lined up horizontally with the pattern, which makes it part of the pattern.

The piece is readable, energetic, and decorative in the best way.

This is a successful “still life meets graphic pattern.”

Third Place: Quiet Time by Robert Coe

This is a compelling and calm painting. The composition and focal anchor is simple and straight forward. Two characteristics that appeal to me the most: the efficacy with which it was executed and the limited palette.

On a subjective perspective, it feels as if Mr. Coe was spiritually present and aware of every stroke.

Honorable Mention: The Song Birds of the Andes by Cecilia Tapestry

A painting with a simple yet strong design. The composition is a simple ‘V’ shape that is created by the branches, which is repeated with the bird’s’ bodies, as well as the direction of their sight, and again by the leaves and the branch in the background. It’s vibrant, well-designed, and technically confident—especially in the birds’ color relationships and edge control.

It is such a joy when nature presents itself to us, it has a way to allow us the opportunity to use and push color palettes and still have them look and feel natural.

Honorable Mention: Red-Bellied Woodpecker on a Snag with Polypores by Catherine Champion

The piece has a clear focal idea (the woodpecker on the carved stump) and a calm atmosphere. The painting shows great contrast management between the fore ground and the background and between the tree and the bird.

Despite the hard lines/edges, the painting emits an air of fragileness and softness. The execution seems to be very efficient and well controlled.