LET'S FACE IT 2022 ARTIST EXHIBIT
Kara Bullock Art School is proud to present it's first, EVER, International Juried Art Exhibition. Melinda Cootsona, our juror, selected the first, second and third place winners, along with three honorable mentions out of 91 pieces. We hope you will take the time to read each statement that Melinda wrote up about each work selected. If you are interested in purchasing one of the pieces, please get in touch with the artist. Artists keep 100% of the proceeds. Thank you for visiting our exhibition. If you are joining Let's Face It 2023, we will have an exhibit at the end of the year. Please also stay-tuned for future exhibit opportunities in our community!
MELINDA COOTSONA - JUROR
I am an artist now living in the beautiful Coachella Valley of Southern California. I was born and raised in Silicon Valley and am a California girl through and through. Inspired by the California landscape, colors, and light, I look to capture it’s essence in much of my work.
I love to paint and to inspire others to create.
Thick, gooey oil paint is my medium, and my work is created by applying layers of shapes, colors, and textures of paint to the canvas over a period of days and weeks. I also now incorporate cold wax medium into much of my work to create rich history, texture and transparency.
I have been teaching painting to students of all levels for over 20 years. My goal is always to inspire students to find their own voice in their work, and to build confidence in their creative process. This world needs more creative people and my goal is to help you find your creative potential whether you are a beginning, “returning,” or experienced artist.
2022 AWARDS
First Place: $500
Kerstin Sager
Second Place: $250
Bonita Balster Hendricks
Third Place: $150
Angelika Wollermann
Three Honorable Mentions: $50
Roné Prinz
Cindi Taylor Johnson
Nancy Wardle
People's Choice: $250
Phoebe Chatham
2022 WINNERS
1ST PLACE WINNER
Kerstin Sager
"Sepia"
15x15 Mixed Media on Paper
Kirstin captured pure emotion in this painting. I feel like the soul of the subject is showing through the eyes and expression. Excellent handling of the medium in that there is a balance of rendering and a loose, expressive quality.
- Melinda Cootsona
2ND PLACE WINNER
Bonita Balster Hendricks
"Piercing Eyes"
8x12 Graphite on Paper
This skillful rendering has to be rewarded! Look at the textures in this drawing: hair, fabric, skin, metal, all exquisitely portrayed. You made it look easy Bonita. A very sensitive, beautiful portrayal of the subject.
- Melinda Cootsona
3RD PLACE WINNER
Angelika Wollermann
"What a Day"
13.7 x 13.7 Acrylic and Collage on Paper
Joyfully fabulous! It is not easy to capture laughter in figurative work and Angelika portrays it here with great skill. This painting makes us smile and feel the joy of the subject. It is more than a rendering, we feel the emotion of the subject.
- Melinda Cootsona
FIRST HONORABLE MENTION
Roné Prinz
"Yada Yada Yada"
11 x 14 Mixed Media and Acrylic
I like the duality of this painting. It is both playful and yet there is clearly some consternation in her expression. There is something "behind the scenes” going on in this work that makes us stop, look, and wonder at her thoughts.
- Melinda Cootsona
SECOND HONORABLE MENTION
Cindi Taylor Johnson
"Alice Whimsy"
12 x 12 Mixed Media
Great detail in this Cindi! Strong composition and excellent use of contrasting patterns. Lovely rendering of the skin which appears soft as velvet in contrast to the surroundings.
- Melinda Cootsona
THIRD HONORABLE MENTION
Nancy Wardle
"Can You See Me"
12 x 12 Mixed Media
More than the excellent rendering, again I’m drawn to the expression of the subject. There is more to this painting than the exaggerated figure. We see into the figure through the glasses and the eyes which hold an ambiguous emotive quality causing us to question his thoughts. Great color work here as well.
- Melinda Cootsona
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Phoebe Chatham
"Broad Realm"
8.5x11 Mixed Media on Brown Chip Board
Voted by the People of Let's Face It 2022! Congratulations for the most votes! Well-deserved, Phoeobe!
