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2023 Annual Elected Members' Exhibition and Awards A Letter from the Juror This has been a wonderful privilege and honor to jury this masterful show. My only regret was that I wasn't able to see all of the amazing paintings in person on the art filled walls of an exhibit. This show definitely belonged in a gallery for myself and others to enjoy! Being an Awards Juror is such an interesting paradox. On one hand, it is a great honor to be bestowed with the task of selecting works that exemplify the highest levels of artistic achievement. Yet, on the other hand, it is the unenviable process of crediting only a select few artists with awards amongst all of the worthy participants. This show was no exception. I have truly invested in experiencing, and digesting everything that each artist so carefully expressed in each work. I allowed myself time to have a dialogue with each of the pieces. I’ve listened to each story and let the artist and artwork take me on a visual journey. Some paintings provoked thoughtfulness, while others invoked nostalgic memories and some evoked a more emotional experience. It was increasingly evident that the level of art on display is a testament to the artistic prowess of the New Jersey Watercolor Societies members and the exceptional abilities of each Artist. It was obvious after a few slides that I would have a complex task of selecting winners out of this collection. I find that no matter how familiar I am with the medium of watercolor, artists always find ways to present the medium with new and refreshing techniques. I am always delightfully surprised at how artists choose to handle watercolor to accomplish the desired effects and solve the multitude of problems that arise from making a painting. Kudos to all of you for your wonderful craftsmanship and ingenuity! I would like everyone to know that regardless of the award distinctions, every artist’s work presented in this show is of the highest caliber! And a special congratulations to all the award winners! Thank you for letting me be a part of this event and share a moment on your artist journey! Cheers to the Bold, Andrew Kish III   Best In Show Tim Saternow • 203 Terminal Food, W. 29th St. I was immediately struck with the mood and nostalgia associated with this piece. The technique and draftsmanship are fantastic. The spattered washes are reminiscent of stained and faded photographs from a forgotten era and are perfectly articulated in this painting. Congratulations on a strong painting both compositionally and emotionally! Well Done! Award of Excellence Margaret Kukafka • Resilience It takes mere seconds to realize that this artist has an amazing feel for watercolor. The lost and found edges and the subtle handling of the shadows are all done to perfection as they play accompaniment to the most important part in this piece, its emotional impact. This painting's true power is told through the emotional gaze of its subject and the masterful paint handling in his eyes. Beautiful! Award of Excellence Roberta Oliver • Love Glistens Painting animals and water are two very complex subjects to render. To accomplish both as successfully as they are painted here is truly a treat for our senses. I am extremely impressed with the visual textures that the artist was able to capture along with the subtle nuances of color that are present in the white feathers. The warm washes in the shadows…wow… Bravo!   Award of Excellence Richard Hoffman • Walking Along Union Street Everyone needs a splash of color in their lives and this painting practically pours it on! The ultramarine's that permeate the shadows juxtaposed to the burnt sienna leaves in this fall scene are fantastic. You can all but feel the warm sunlight on this brisk fall day. Two thumbs way up. Award of Merit Doris Jetliner • Lilacs and Early May Flowers Watercolor in its simplest form presents its most profound nature, its transparency. Compositionally and technically this painting sings! The complimentary color choices along with the simplistic background coupled with the most beautiful calligraphic marks within the flowers all add up to a wonderful example of artistic harmony. Outstanding! Award of Merit Richard William Haynes • Twist and Shout I don’t know if it is human nature to add human characteristics to plants and animals, but we find ourselves looking for those traits everywhere around us. This painting stands as a perfect example. Two flowers entwined in a co dependent relationship, thriving and overcoming all odds. Outside of the masterful composition and subject on display, this painting achieves a mesmerizing balance of light and dark that commands attention even from a distance. Excellent! Award of Merit Derek Cameron • Storm Debris Painting nature can be extremely complex and chaotic. In this painting the artist was able to tame the complexity while also giving us an unbelievable amount of information to digest. The choice of subject truly lives up to the title as I constantly found myself wanting to traverse the log and explore into the distant background around the piles of fallen trees. The tension created in this piece gives way to a grand imaginative adventure. Remarkable! Award of Honor Michael Berardesco • Harvest Vault The amount of detail encapsulated in even a small portion of this painting is magnificent. The dry brushing technique used to achieve the countless textures gives us an amazing visual experience. You can feel the wood grain on the time weathered boards and the roughness on the stones of the cellar. This is a true homage to a time long ago. Amazing!   Award of Honor Lisa Budd • Around the Bend Again What a fitting title for this somber piece of atmospheric watercolor. The artist so eloquently describes the simplicity of everyday life in the rural northeastern states during the snowy winter months. The confidence of brushwork coupled with the beautiful wet-in-wet wash handling in the background make for a literal walk down memory lane. I guess in paintings as in life, all roads lead home! Brilliant! Award of Honor Glenda Haas • Franske Tomater There is something so magical about how light dances and reflects across a shiny subject. The shimmer of light on each of these “tomaters” is handled fantastically. With the subtlety of color and delicate painting technique on display it really is a “feast” for the eyes! Great Job ____________________________________________________________ Entries Anastasia, Susanna • The Old Man of the Sea Arnold, Linda • In Flight Aviv, Hana • Iris Baumlin, Edward • Old Oak Tree Caldarone, Sal • Snow Day (Callia) Capaldo, Joan • Resistance is Futile Cocchiaro Cohen, Denise • A Tranquil Rain deMos, Mark • Living On Wishes DiPilla, Gwynn • Siena Cafe Goodwin, MaryAnn • What Should I Wear Today Gray, Katherine • Venice Greene, Ann • Suncatchers   Heyer, Robert • The Boat Yard Kirk, Mona • Fruit on a Shelf Kubert, Theresa • Advice Column   Leggate, Pamela • Simple Pleasures Maloney, Jim • Three Rubies Maneva, Henrieta • New York City III-Union Square Broadway Mayer, Randy • Low Battery! Meadowsong, Peter • Vermont Roadside Junk Mucci, Yvonne • Ode To Antoinette Nace, Carol • Contemplating Patton, Diana • Sunflowers in My Garden Payer, Maria • One Eyed Jag Pizzano, Isabella • The Visitor Redden, Deborah • Shadows Robinson, Nancy • Summer Sail Rosenthal, Eli • Just The Guys Rose, Marilyn • Streetery Scherfen, Michael • The Gatekeeper, Williamsburg, VA Scribner, Joyce • Wet Toesies Shipman, MaryLou • Willie St. Angel, Jackie • The New Normal Sussna, Robert • Sergeantsville Boogie Woogie Turba, Dee • Summer Home Valenti, Thomas • Fun House, Point Pleasant, NJ Zazenski, Steve • Bermuda Shadows Ziegler, Eileen • Old Salt