Remember that new journey I was open to?

Remember that new journey I was open to??? My previous blog left you wondering where I was headed to next. I was off to Charleston, SC, and then Kiawah Island. Two of my FAVORITE places in the world.

However, there was a change of plans. There was to be no vacation for me. My Father was admitted to the hospital in Philadelphia. I did have a quick visit with my good friend, Nancy, who lives in Mt. Pleasant, (across the bridge from Charleston). We spent an afternoon walking around Charleston, but never made it to a gallery! :( Then I headed to Philadelphia. Well, I did say I was going to let the journey lead me…

Nancy's fabulous porch!!!

I came across this painting in an email. It won first prize in the July, Ray Mar Art Contest. The artist is Tibor Nagy. I thought the theme and description were fitting for my current mood.

 The judge was artist Jennifer McChristian, her evaluation of the painting is fabulous! She thoroughly describes the intricacies of this painting, reading her comments will give  you a peek into the intriguing process of creating a GREAT piece of art!

July Best of Show Award Sponsor: RayMar Art Blackness Over the Lower Street by Tibor Nagy Oil 16 x 20 Entered in: 6th Annual Competition Month #8- July 2012 http://nagytibor.com Judge's Comments: This absolutely gorgeous painting took my breath away! What a beauty! It’s an extremely captivating, moody and compelling piece which drew me in and would not let me go. Not that I wanted to go, I could gaze at this painting for hours! I cannot begin to talk about all the amazing qualities found within this remarkable painting. As an artist, Tibor displays the upmost confidence evident in his brush and palette knife work and employs a boldness that only an extremely gifted and experienced painter can pull off. The sumptuous paint application gives the word ‘painterly’ a whole new meaning! The delicious lost and found edges are handled exquisitely. This intriguing, poetic and ethereal painting is so infused with emotion, empathy and melancholia one cannot help but to be profoundly moved. It is clear that the artist painted this haunting imagery with intense sincerity, raw emotion and expressive energy. This extremely multi-layered painting reminds me of a ghostly entity. The cool, subdued and gorgeously diffused greys invoke a sense of isolation and loneliness. I love the way the building is subtly integrated with the foreground, as it rises from the earth into the misty air, giving it a poetic and otherworldly feel. The artist has truly developed his own voice that makes his paintings immediately recognizable and distinctive. A masterpiece indeed! - Jennifer McChristian And, then I noticed another finalist. I love the painting, and the title. Again, how appropriate for my mood and the theme of my latest posts! Finalist Award Sponsor: RayMar Art Judge: Jennifer McChristian A New Dawn, a New Day by Thomas Kitts 12 x 16 Oil Judge's Comments: This immensely delightful and airy plein air says so much with so little. Aside from capturing the freshness and vitality of a ‘new day’ the artist has managed to simplify and edit his shapes beautifully, giving this painting a bold and abstract quality. While some plein air painters simply recreate or copy a scene, Thomas translates this scene to it’s core essence by using simple flat shapes, a serene composition, and luminescent colors. Subtle value shifts and painterly brush strokes along with a sumptuous color palette are used to capture the nuances of morning light. The opulent and vibrant strokes of pinks and mauves sparkle against the predominate complementary greens. The delicate balance of warm and cool greens creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. The group of ducks gently floating in the calm waters complete the painting by adding a sense of scale and whimsy. - Jennifer McChristian I have been in Philadelphia for eleven days now. It has been a sad and bittersweet time. I have enjoyed time with my dear brothers, sister-in-laws, and nieces. I am heading to Louisville for a short break, to spend my birthday with my immediate family (and the dogs!!!). Mr. Sienna and Ms. Violet and one more thought for today:                                                        until next time! Kathy        http://nagytibor.com   --------Tibor Nagy's website!