Community Service Award for Fern Christian

Renaissance Art Gallery Director, Fern Christian, with Kathy Hollet, was honored with  TSAA’s Community Service award at their 2013 Christmas Dinner.  Both of these strong women have served on TSAA's board of Directors, served as president, and have literally spent thousands of hours on countless committees to support TSAA's mission and its membership.

 

Fern and Kathy are the first recipients of TSAA's Community  Service Award. Recipients of the award must have a minimum of 10 years of uninterrupted membership and community service in the association to be eligible for this award.  Both Fern and Kathy have far exceeded these minimums and set the bar high for future award recipients.

 

A member of Tri-State Artists Association since 1968, Fern has been supportive of artists in the Tri-State area and is the founder and director of an artist-cooperative gallery, the Renaissance Art Gallery. She also teaches painting on Monday mornings from 10:00 am until noon.

Kathy has worked tirelessly whether she is mentoring new members, teaching, or writing grants. Fern has spend over a decade building the Renaissance Gallery for local (coop)artists. The Renaissance gallery hosts a national show which brings art from all over the United States and abroad to the Tri-State region.

http://tristatearts.webs.com/

 

The Renaissance Art Gallery

900 8th Street, Suite #20

Huntington, WV 25701

 

Gallery (304) 525-3235

Appointments: (304) 453-3187

gallerywv@yahoo.com

www.orgsites.com/wv/renaissance

 

 

Elaine Hahn - People's Choice Award

The Renaissance Art Gallery is happy to announce the winner of the 13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition’s People’s Choice Award

 

This year the visitors and patrons of the Renaissance Art Gallery have chosen Elaine Hahn’s “Sunset Glow” as their favorite miniature. This is truly an outstanding work, of great vision and depth. Although only 1 inches wide by 4 inches long, this work draws the eye. "Sunset Glow" is an oil painting done on copper plate. Elaine is a resident of Holiday, Florida

Elaine is a resident of Holiday, Florida and has been a regular participant in the Renaissance Art Gallery’s Miniature Exhibition.

 

Some of the comments from ballots for the people’s choice award:

 

“Waves show incredible detail along with white sea foam. The sun’s refection also show rippling effect.”~ Guest’s comments

 

“So much beauty in such a small space! Excellent!” ~ Guest Comment

 

Each year we are able to present the best in miniature art and it is a privilege to host this show. ~ The Renaissance Art Gallery.

13th Annual National Miniature Exhibition Winner's List 2013



Winners List 2013

Juror Jenine Culligan

 

Complimentary Award (4)
 

 

Hossein Fallahi – Rose of Esfaham – 12A

Ted Daubresse – One More Time from the Top – 30B

Sue Wall – Pure Affection – 31B

Yvonne James – Milady – 10A

 

 

 

Honorable Mention (3)

 

Carol Rockwell – The Stand Off – 27C

Ronnie Cramer – Ice Skater – 28C

Melinda Fabian – Crab on Deck – 54A

 

 

Merit Award (2)

 

Akiko Watanabe – Mr. Hercule – 8A

Lena Leitzke – San Diego – 23A

1^st Place (shared) These two works made it impossible to select one over the other,

thus the shared 1^st Place:

 

 

Janet Palmer – Swirling Waters – 1A

Janet Laird-Lagassee – Matchless - 18A 

 

 

Award of Excellence:

Judith Edgington Bayes – Grandpa’s Apples – 24B

There is one last award, and this one will not be selected until the end of the Exhibition, it is our People's Choice Award.

Each year art lovers who visit the Annual National Miniature Exhibition at the Renaissance Art Gallery cast their votes on what they feel is the most outstanding miniature in the show. This year we have added a space for comments to this ballot. We will be sharing these comments as we review the show daily in our Renaissance Art Gallery Blog.



Award of Excellence: Judith Edgington Bays - Grandpa's Apples

Award of Excellence:

 

 

Judith Edgington Bayes – Grandpa’s Apples –

"I could immediately feel the emotional attachment of the artist to the subject. There is a pervasive warmth to the entire work. The gentle curve of the composition helped along by the subtle sway of the grass takes the viewer through the orchard and from detail foreground to diffuse background.  The details  and gestures (the man’s face; his grasping, gloved hand; shoelaces,; and spectacles) and especially the light used – a soft dappling light on the man’s shirt and overalls – create a lovely portrait and landscape in one. "

~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

"This painting is proving to be very popular with everyone who come to the Renaissance Art Gallery. There is definitely an emotional response to it. We all remember this, whether it is our grandfather or family outings picking our own." ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Gallery Artist.

 

First Place- Janet Laird-Lagassee - Matchless

this is our second 1st Place Winner:

Janet Laird-Lagassee – Matchless - 

"I love the cropped composition in this painting. It immediately brings the viewer into the work. Beautiful details on the bridles, harness, etc.  It is so realistic, that the viewer almost expects the pair to move and the carriage to pass across the front of the picture plane. The angles of the reins, the horses’ ears, the grass and slope of the hill all add to the arrested but expected movement.  Very nice – it reminds me of a farm I once lived on and roamed in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania."

~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

"Reminds me of our Beach Visitations, very restful" ~ Guest Comment

 

First Place - Janet Palmer Swirling Waters

Two works share this year's First Place Award. Our juror, Jenine Culligan found it impossible to choose between them, thus the shared 1^st Place:

 

Janet Palmer – Swirling Waters –

"This work is small, but has a vast feel.  One can almost sense the pull of the tide. The slightly elevated perspective puts the viewer on the rocks overlooking the ocean. Very nice use of the paper showing through – expertly rendered. It reminds of  19^th century seascapes at their best, especially William Trost Richards."~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

"This is another painting that photography just does not do justice to. It is an outstanding piece of work, that although small gives a feeling of space. It does not feel small!" ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Art Gallery artist.

 

 

Akiko Watanabe - Mr. Hercule - Merit Award

 

Akiko Watanabe – Mr. Hercule –

"The direct stare of this cat really catches your eye. It is so detailed and beautifully executed. Notice the black whiskers on the green, and the white highlighting the black whiskers against the black fur.  Also, notice the slightly white outline of the eye and the wonderful reflections in the eyes – Nice!. The tondo format is perfect for this cat portrait. You can see so much color and detail in the fur of this “black” cat." ~Jenine Culligan, Juror

"This is a truly outstanding portrait of this cat, not just any cat, but this one. You can see the personality in his eyes." ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance artist.

Lena Leitzke - San Diego - Merit Award

Lena Leitzke – San Diego –

Nice use of wet on wet watercolor – wonderful reflections of the boats and lights in the water and vice-a-versa.  Just enough detail suggested to pull it all together beautifully. Love the twinkling lights of the twilight hour. Beautiful work. ~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

Beautiful ~ Guest Comment

Carol Rockwell – The Stand Off - Honorable Mention

 

The Stand Off

 

Carol Rockwell – The Stand Off –

 

This work caught my attention because of its unusual cropped composition, and then the more I explored it the more I liked it. I like the unusual subject matter, the elevated perspective (as if you are seated in the stands at a rodeo). I really like the hats in the bottom left, and the shadow of the bull in the dirt, the details in the rodeo clown’s face and gestures. The viewer can feel the stop in the action with both the rodeo clown and the bull anticipating each other’s next move. Really lovely little watercolor - a 21^st century take on a “western” subject matter.  Artist has a very distinct personal style.

 

Ronnie Cramer - Ice Skater - Honorable Mention

Ronnie Cramer – Ice Skater
 

Again, a nice cropped composition. I like that, and I like the banality of the subject matter. All the works entered by this artist had a distinct look, nice soft use of broad areas of color with subtle shading, and the artist incorporated the white of the paper in the composition. Nice facile approach with the wet on wet watercolor.

~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

Melinda Fabian - Crab on Deck - Honorable Mention

Melinda Fabian – Crab on Deck –

 

 

An unusual,  clever and well- crafted 3-dimensional watercolor. So well done, that one expects the little crab to go scurrying on his way. I enjoyed all the works submitted by this artist, and liked the combination of the 2-D and 3-D aspects in each work.
~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

This has proved to be a very popular work piece. It draws the eyes, and brings a smile to everyone who sees it. Melinda Fabian's work is so detailed and completely fun! ~ The Renaissance Art Gallery.

 

 

 

Hossein Fallahi - "Rose of Esfaham" - Complimentary Award

 

Hossein Fallahi - Rose of Esfaham 12 A

 

"Beautifully rendered work in a very traditional style. The lush rounded forms and the soft but vibrant colors really pop out on the white ground, much like porcelain painting.  Very nice details."

 

~ Jenine Culligan

Juror

 

Ted Daubresse - One more Time From the Top - Complimentary Award

 

 

 

Ted Daubresse – One More Time from the Top – 30B

 

This stage-like composition caught my eye due to its linear style, simplified color scheme, and charming subject matter. I like the artist’s unique drawing style. ~ Jenine Culligan, Juror

 

 

Yvonne James - "Milady" - Complimentary Award

 

Yvonne James – Milady – 10A

"I find this a very interesting subject for a miniature. The painting is a complicated exercise, portraying many layers and lots of depth. I was impressed with the treatment of the glass shop window, the brick wall, the arched window frame and the complicated angles of the hats. A very ambitious work with lots packed into a small-scale format."

~Jenine Culligan,
 Juror’s comments.

 

"This is definitely one painting that photography just does not do justice to. It must be seen to be fully appreciated. The camera lens just is not sensitive enough to reveal the real depth this painting has. "

~ The Renaissance Art Gallery
 

Sue Walls - "Pure Affection" - Complimentary Award

Delightful Miniature: Pure Affection

Sue Wall

 

– Pure Affection –

 

"The three works submitted to the show by this artist involved cats, architectural details, and stained glass windows. This one stood out because it was a little less formal, and is just plain “sweet.” The interaction of the two cats is, as the title suggests, is pure affection, and the artist has caught this gesture perfectly. "

~ Jenine Culligan
 

 

"There is such a consistency to Sue's work. Each year guests of the Renaissance Gallery are amazed that the skill, detail and emotion she puts into these small masterpieces." ~ the Renaissance Art Gallery

 

"Sue Wall is one of my favorite artists. Each year she delights both the Gallery Artists and public with her incredible and intimate artwork. She is one of the artists everyone looks forward to seeing." ~ Susan Tschantz, Renaissance Art Gallery Artist.

 

 

 

 

People’s Choice Award 2012

 

People walked through The Renaissance Art Gallery all during November admiring the fine miniatures. Each person was given the chance to select his or her own personal favorite. At the end of the month, we counted up the votes.

 

This vote is always tight. There are so many fabulous and amazing miniatures that is  really is hard to choose a favorite. The People’s Choice award gives everyone a taste of just how hard it is to judge this exhibition. Over 150 people took an interest in the show this year, and while the voting was fierce, and close, we do have a winner.

 

Sue Wall’s Kitchen Helpers was a clear winner. Sue has been a favorite of guests at the Renaissance Art Gallery's Minaiture show for years, and we are happy to give her the People's Choice award for 2012.

 

Sue lives in New York City and is an active pet artist. You can see more of Sue's work on her website: http://www.suewallstudio.com/

 

Award of Excellence

The miniature thought to be the most outstanding example of miniature art in this years show is

 

Glenn Leung, Philadephia, PA

"Shess & Antique"

 

Watercolor

 

Extraordinary, meticulous and absurd detail with an overall stunning composition. This painting is magnificent! A beautiful representation of light and reflection. The overall piece shows extreme mastery of technical execution.
 

It begs us to remember the Masters!

~Tom Suter,

Juror, 2012

12th Annual National Miniature Exhibition

First Place

1st Place

 

J. Laird-Lagassee,

Auburn, ME

"Apples on a Table"

 

Water Color

 

Such a simple theme that evolves into an exquisite painting. The use of primary colors with a touch of elegance and beauty from three apples. Again, unbelievable detail and visual acuity at the highest level.

 

~Tom Suter,

Juror, 2012

12th Annual National Miniature Exhibition

 

Second Place

2nd Place

 

Gail Mac Argel, Saint Peters, MO

"Harmony"

Oils

 

A quite lovely and well conceived composition that speaks to the Classical. The color scheme and use of light is just so stunning and powerful! Amazing, just amazing!

~Tom Suter,

Juror, 2012

12th Annual National Miniature Exhibition

 

Teacher’s Merit Award

The artists teaching at the Renaissance Art Gallery sponsor this award and we are happy to award it this year to

Bob Ivers, Horsehead, NY

"Tools of the Trade"
Oils

Great composition and use of line and color.

 

 

 

 

~Tom Suter,

Juror, 2012

12th Annual National Miniature Exhibition