PAINT THE TOWN! 2018: Williamsville

​Bruce St. Clair juried this year’s Paint the Town! entries, which are currently on display at the WAG. He opened his remarks by saying that the show, although small, displayed high-quality work in terms of composition and skill of execution. Following are excerpts from his feedback to winners and honourable mentions.

winners!

​Wanda Slawinski, Pawn Shop (acrylic)
“… the artist has exercised her artistic prerogative, choosing viewpoint and positioning of content to create this strong abstract impression of the location ... this brave little painting reveals an adventurous side to her artistic personality.”

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​Phil Chadwick, Albert Street Alley (oil)
“Cool observation and carefully considered composition are a hallmark of his work … I chose this one because it gives us … an interior view--more intimate than the usual street scene. We can feel we're being enticed to sneak between the houses, see what's really back there; we can't help but be drawn by that white shed.”

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​Nancy Steele, Albert Street (oil)
“Perhaps what I enjoy the most about this wee piece is the confident brush action, every stroke true to its intent and free of the mud and mess so difficult to avoid in alla prima oil painting … A true impressionist painting, full of light and colour.”

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Honourable mentions!

​Elizabeth Pulker, At Memorial Pool (lino print)
“… succeeds very well as an abstract design … the fence … obeys the guidelines of composition, directing us to enter rather than keeping us on the outside looking in.”

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​Cyndy Nute, Dappled Tree (acrylic)
“… effective use of aerial perspective ... the wonderful exuberance of the tree branches contrasts with the serenity of the simple bush shapes, gentle shadows and flat lawn.”

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​Cindy Mitchell, Beyond the Trees (oil)
“Although the flower bed in the foreground circles around in front of us, it doesn't hinder our footsteps as we follow the grassy pathway into the sunlit interior… a little Pre-Raphaelite leaf painting adds to the illusion of depth.”

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​Carol Lynne Rice, Darbar Exotic Indian Cuisine (pastel on sanded paper)
“Its darkness actually invites us to look more closely… we discover two people… having a conversation! …The words aren't that easy to read, which is why the balloons manage to become simply an unobtrusive part of the over-all composition.”

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