Welcome to the 24th Annual Members’ Exhibition – Big Splash 2021, the third virtual exhibit of the Saint Louis Watercolor Society. The exhibition opens on the stlws.org website on October 1, 2021 and closes on October 31, 2021. Awards will be presented to the award winners on October 7 at 3:30 p.m. at Hawken House, 1155 South Rock Hill Road, Webster Groves, MO.
This Member’s Only collection of art highlights some of the many and diverse talents of the STLWS.
If you are interested in purchasing a work of art, please take note of the painting’s information and Contact Us. An Exhibit Chair will get back to you shortly with purchase details.
Judge’s Statement:
When jurying I look most for a well designed painting. We desire unity and yet diversity. What does this mean? Primarily, we need to love the whole painting, not just a particular part of the painting. We need to love the whole book, movie, symphonic performance, not just a certain part, but all the parts for different reasons. Good design also means that we avoid having any particular shape, color, activity or emotion that stands out too differently from the rest of the painting. I try not to judge a painting by what the subject is, each person has their own biases and reasons as to why they like certain subjects. I do consider the power of a universal message, the capacity to reach multiple cultures rather than a particular group, as a potentially more powerful subject. I do look for technique and color that shows authority over the medium of watercolor. An overworked painting can, in some cases, be a strong painting, but a fresh painting that is well designed is a stronger painting. I also look for effective control of lighting and mood. I also value the originality and uniqueness of the subject and the techniques used. Thank you for asking me to be your judge for this year’s exhibition.
– Stan Miller
Awards
First Place
Janine Helton, A Time for Rest
Eric’s Watercolor Frames,
Eric’s Watercolor Plein Air Frame, $289
Second Place
Linda Wilmes, Recycled
M Graham & Company, $241 Gift Certificate
for 12 tube Watercolor Set
Third Place
Karen Romani, Splendor in the Grass
Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, $200 Gift Certificate & from
Dixon Ticonderoga Company, Princeton Aqua Elite
10″ Round Sample Card, $25.95
1st Award of Recognition
Terry Lay, Route of the Maya
Dixon Ticonderoga Company, MaimeriBlu Half Pan
Watercolor Set, 16 Colors, $195
2nd Award of Recognition
Claudia Broom, Comfort Pup
HK Holbein, 24 tube Watercolor Set, $172, & from Dixon
Ticonderoga Company, Strathmore 400 Watercolor
Paper, 140 lb. Cold Press, 9″x12″ Pad, 12 Sheets, $12.09
3rd Award of Recognition
Julie Bantle, Party of One
HK Holbein, 24 tube Watercolor Set, $172
4th Award of Recognition
Cindy Breihan, Maritime
Raymar, $125 Gift Certificate, & from Dixon Ticonderoga
Company, MaimeriBlu Introductory 12 ml Watercolor
Set, 5 Colors, $39.95
5th Award of Recognition
Michelle Davis, White-throated Sparrow
St. Louis Art Supply, 12 Schmincke Horadam Half Pan
Watercolors, Water Brush, Travel Watercolor Brush &
Watercolor Journal, $124
6th Award of Recognition
Linda Meyer, Cactus in Bloom 2
St. Louis Art Supply, 12 Schmincke Horadam Half Pan
Watercolors, Water Brush, Travel Watercolor Brush &
Watercolor Journal, $124
7th Award of Recognition
Gail Crosson, Lines of Communication
Dick Blick Art Materials, $100 Gift Certificate
8th Award of Recognition
Ken Francis, The Yellow Shanty
Golden Artist Colors, Inc., $50 Gift Certificate
& QoR 12 Color Introductory Watercolor Set
9th Award of Recognition
Judy Grewe, Millefleur
Artmart STL, Winsor & Newton 1″ Flat Sceptre
Gold II brush, Escoda Reserva #6 Kolinsky-Tajmyr Brush,
Princeton Sable #10 Round Brush, Princeton Sable #16 Round Brush,
$100
10th Award of Recognition
Allan Gillespie, Harvest
Dixon Ticonderoga Company, Arches Watercolor 140 lb.
Cold Pressed 12″x16″ Block, 20 Sheets, $85.75
1st Honorable Mention
Annette McGarrahan, The First Thing
Speedball, Escoda Travel 3-Brush Set, Green, $75
2nd Honorable Mention
Patty Strubinger, Garden of Pink Beauty
Speedball, Escoda Travel 3-Brush Set, Red, $75
3rd Honorable Mention
Diane Carder, Little Partner
Speedball, Escoda Travel 3-Brush Set, Black, $75
4th Honorable Mention
Elizabeth Young, Grape Jam
Speedball, Escoda Travel 3-Brush Set, Blue, $75
5th Honorable Mention
Patricia Long, Trucker Cowboy
Dixon Ticonderoga Company:
Lyra Rembrandt Aquarell
Water Soluble Pencils, 36 Colors, $72
People’s Choice Award
Creative Catalyst, $70 DVD Gift Certificate
To be determined at the close of the exhibit
by tally of the online votes.
Many Thanks to Our Volunteers
On behalf of the STLWS Board of Directors we would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to our volunteers who have worked so hard to make this second virtual exhibit a huge success. We cannot say enough about the tireless effort, our Communications Chair, Jane Hogg. Once again, this virtual exhibit simply would not have happened without her. Our Publicity Chair, Florine Porter, advertised Big Splash and worked tirelessly to recruit the sponsors, who donated so many wonderful prizes. The catalog was produced by our new member, Laura Horman, who created this beautiful graphic design effort. Our tech-savvy Membership Chair, Gina Perkins, created the wonderful video of our exhibit.
Thank you also to Steven Morris who was the 1st Place Award Winner from our last Big Splash Exhibit. This year’s catalog cover design featured Steven’s wonderful and award winning painting, “Nest With Purple Polka Dots.”
We would also like to thank our juror, Stan Miller, for his extensive knowledge and masterful art training. The task of choosing just a few of the entries to receive awards is a daunting one amongst so many talented artists.
And finally, I would like to thank Ted Daniels of The Hot Copy in Maryland Heights, who has skillfully taken on the job of printing the catalog and all the many items throughout the years for the STLWS. His attention to detail and ‘go the extra mile’ service cannot be beat.
Enjoy viewing this year’s Big Splash 2021 exhibit.
Carla Baron Giller
Deb Dey
Co-Exhibits Chairs
A Special Thank to Our Sponsors
This is a thumbnail gallery that can be used to see larger images of each piece of art. Included captions contain information on artist, title, size and sale price.
The show catalog is available for viewing.
People’s Choice voting is available until October 31.
And, you can even watch a video of the exhibit.
Copyright © 2021 by the Saint Louis Watercolor Society