John Burton
"Pebble Beach Cypress"

Comments: "A great painting with a wonderful quality of color, paint quality,design and use of values and edges! The fresh and confident variety of brush strokes give this painting an immediacy and excitement tha is a delight to the eye" -Ned Mueller

Comments: The artist captured the character and unique gestures of the Monterey Cypress. Expressively painted, the colorful, clean grays create a harmonious palette for this foggy day on the California coast. -Kim Lordier

Bryan Mark Taylor
"The Day it Rained"

Comments: "An obvious on site painting that captures the mood and feeling of a rainy day. The fresh, bold and accurate color captures this moment in time and speaks a special truth all of its own!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: I can hear the windshield wipers dragging across the window, and feel the need to make sure my umbrella is next to me before I park. The artist has successfully achieved the heightening of senses with the mere mixing of paint. The control of the value structure, quality of edges and mere hint of detail add to the strength of mood. I love the warm gray palette with the hint of primary colors to add interest. -Kim Lordier

Bryan Mark Taylor
"Old Town Sunset"

Comments: "A difficult subject wonderfully executed. Has captured the mood of days end. The intelligent editing and decisions of executing the very subtle colors, values, shapes and edges are masterfully done!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: Awesome composition in this beautifully crafted scene. The value gradation in the atmospheric perspective combined with overlapping shapes adds to the illusion of miles. The cool palette envelopes the earth as the warmth seeps over the hillside. The calligraphic and confident brush work of the artists work makes this a stand out painting.-Kim Lordier

Thomas Kitts
"Ghosts in the Morning"

Comments: "A great painting with a wonderful quality of color, paint quality,design and use of values and edges! The fresh and confident variety of brush strokes give this painting an immediacy and excitement tha is a delight to the eye"-Ned Mueller

Comments: The brevity of strokes, control of values, and believable quality to the light, all play an important role in bringing this painting to the forefront of selection. The artist captured the moment without overworking, allowing the transparency of the darks to work as a beautiful foil for the opaque passages. Fresh.-Kim Lordier

Camille Przewodek
"Flowers at Sunset"

Comments: "Masterfully executed with passion and wonderful paint quality. A nice balance and arrangementof bright, rich and grey colors. A painting to delight and lift the soul with its great sense of light and mood!"-Ned Mueller

Mitch Baird
"A Guiding Nudge"

Comments: "An exceptional painting because of its concept, design, color, paint quality and execution. A simple moment in time with all of the elements of painting supporting this idea in a very eloquent way"-Ned Mueller

Comments: Love this piece. The classic darkest dark next to the lightest light, the richest most intense colors, and crispest edges all reserved for the gentlemen guiding their craft. The supporting elements, beautifully painted, help lead us right where our artist wants us to go. Excellently crafted. Love that red/green color exchange where the bow of the gondola meets the edge of the building.-Kim Lordier

Mitch Baird
"Morning Ensigns, Italy"

Comments: "Beautifully executed in capturing the mood and sense of place! Confident and fresh brushstokes and use of edges to make a very simple and nice statement of a moment in time!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: A beautiful example of the power of simplified shapes in composing a strong painting. The implied details created with the deft brush work, and the tonal gradation play an important part in creating the atmosphere to support the back lit story. I love how the artist used the primary colors to lead our eye around this piece, in essence initiating a prolonged dance between the viewer and artist.-Kim Lordier

David Tanner
"Derek: Contemplation in the Studio"

Comments: "A very pleasing work! The attitude of the figure and his comtemplative expression are sensitively and expressively painted. A well thought out arrangement of shapes and colors. I am sure that this painting will connect with a lot of artists!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: This is a finely composed painting. The strong diagonals create a circular rotation around the figure keeping your eye engaged while we contemplate Derek contemplating. We have all been in Derek's shoes "no pun intended" standing before the canvas analyzing the next step. The gesture feels genuine, that stillness right before the decision has been made. Great draftsmanship.-Kim Lordier

Marc Dalessio
"Barn at Turbach (CH)"

Comments: "A very simple thoughtful and eloquent statement! Bold and direct in its execution and design. Wonderful paint quality with a very pleasing balance of shapes and colors!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: Masterful observation of values to create truth. The very subtle temperature changes within the mass behind the structure creates a great deal of depth in this clean design. -Kim Lordier

Aaron Schuerr
"River Glow"

Comments: " A very well executed painting that captures the mood and texture of a winter scene. The well thought out arrangement of shapes, colors and values makes this painting a delight and joy to the eye!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: Love, love, love the warm/cool color relationships in this piece. There is a beautiful strength in how the artist organized the shapes of a potentially chaotic scene. We are guided through this abstract design by a classic "s" movement, yet captured by the last play of light before the cool shadow overtakes the stage.-Kim Lordier

Xiao Jiang
"Morning of Harbor"

Comments: "Thoughtfully and sensitively put together with a wonderful arrangement of paint strokes and quality. The painting captures a quiet mood with artful editing of details and shapes."-Ned Mueller

Comments: I really enjoy the paint application of this artists work. All the images submitted are beautifully crafted. What strikes me special about this particular piece are the subtle color transitions within each shape to describe form. The texture is lively, and this artist has a strong stamp of style to his/her work. -Kim Lordier

Robert Christain Hemme
"Introspection"

Comments: "A well executed portrait that captures the pensiveness of the subject. Fresh,clean color with a nice contrast of the more carefully painted head with the interesting and loosely painted background!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: Lovely expression and draftsmanship. Beautiful interplay between the warm and cool light sources. Terrific design. I appreciate the clean color of the skin tones and the attention to the subtle value structure with the dueling light sources. So often that core shadow is painted too dark in value. I really enjoy the delicate balance of cool blue notes as they dance around the warm canvas.-Kim Lordier

Jim McVicker
"Interior with Amaryllis"

Comments: "An exceptional work of art..wonderful concept and design! So very well thought out with great handling of all the different textures. Very nice balance of rich and grey colors. A very contemplative painting!"-Ned Mueller

Comments: The tonal qualities to this painting are captivating. The soft, cool, even lighting produces a contemplative environment. Terrific draftsmanship supports the subtle quality to the edges of the objects, creating a great deal of depth and atmosphere in this piece. -Kim Lordier