IWS Members Show 2020 – Illinois Watercolor Society

August 1 – September 30, 2020

Click here to download the show catalog in PDF format – 5mb

IWS is thrilled to have Peggy Macnamara serve as the 2020 IWS Members Show juror. Macnamara earned her MA in art history from the University of Chicago and has served as both the Artist-in-Residence at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History since 1990, and as an Associate Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has traveled with Field Museum scientists all over the world to paint nature and illustrate conservation efforts. She has published 4 books in collaboration with museum scientists through University of Chicago Press and created two children’s books.

Juror’s Statement:

The 2020 show is a tribute to the artists of Illinois. Five novices all produced work worthy of a prize or at least admiration. Each of the five pieces from the novices showed incredible promise. So I hope to see these artists at the next exhibit.

I felt the flower studies were exceptionally well done. Tiger Lily Tango, Purple Bearded Iris, and Stumped In Blue Gill Prairie showed watercolor at its best. The loose abstract work like Conifer has an appeal that has always brought viewers to watercolor. I think what the show exhibits is that watercolor can be used for strict realism, light abstraction, as well as inventive expression.

It was very hard to single out six pieces for the excellent awards. I had at least twelve on my list and it would have grown if I had seen the originals. One juror’s opinion is nothing more than one juror’s opinion. Although you try to remain totally unbiased, some thoughts just slip into the process. I’ve always been challenged by composition. There are rules but a good composition pulls the whole piece together without being obvious. The color, value, and shapes are just where they should be. I think a good composition signals experience and understanding of the subtleties of painting.

I’ll close with my favorite Michelangelo quote, “If people knew how hard I had to work to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.”

Peggy Macnamara
IWS Members Show Juror, 2020

Award Winners

**Shirley Kleppe, IWS**  – *Pots and Jars*,  22″x30″,  Not For Sale, Watercolor,  **Award of Excellence**

**Suzanne Hetzel, IWS** –  *Abstract Floral* , 15”x22” , $950, Watercolor , **Award of Excellence**

**Chuck Michaels** – *Concerned* , 20″x24″, $485, Watercolor, **Award of Excellence**

Gina Judy Overgrowth (Weirton Steel, WV)  30"x22" Not For Sale Watercolor  Award of Excellence — **Gina Judy** – *Overgrowth (Weirton Steel, WV)* , 30″x22″, Not For Sale, Watercolor, **Award of Excellence**

**Peter Jablokow, IWS** –  *Metal Fishing Buoys, Lofted Islands*,  8″x11″, Not For Sale , Watercolor,  **Award of Excellence**

**Sandra Cedrins**  – *Venice, Italian Bistrot*, 10″x8″, $300, Watercolor & gouache,  **Award of Excellence**

**Janet Cederlund** –  *My Sweet Swing*,  16″x12″, Not For Sale, Watercolor , **Novice Award**

**Mary Cunningham** – *Lioness*,  11″x15″ , Not For Sale, Watercolor , **Novice Award**

**Tori Brovet**  – *Prepping Salmon* , 6.75″x9.5″, Not For Sale, Watercolor , **Novice Award**

Members Show Paintings

**Sylvia Aruffo, IWS** – *After the Hurricane*, 21.5”x 20.5”, $500, Watercolor

**Linda Bartelt** – *Great Grandmother*, 10″x12″ , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Benita Brewer** – *Queens At Play*, 18″x24″,  $900, Watercolor

**Ken Call, IWS** – *Crunch Bar*, 28”x20” , $3,500, Watercolor

**Angelo Campagnolo, IWS** – *Quarry No. 2*, 30″x24″ , $800, Watercolor

**Maureen Carr** – *Iris in Lincoln Park*, 14″x11″ , $450, Watercolor

**Kay Cassill, IWS** – *Life – Younkers Tea Room c. 1950s*, 18″x24″ , $2,000, Watercolor on yupo

**Susanne Clark, IWS** – *A Box Full of Colors*, 10″x12″ , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Rosemarie Dagostino** – *Flowerbox*, 10″x16″,  $250, Watercolor

**Daniel Danielson, IWS** – *Vizer and the Emperor*, 20″x14″,  Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Janet Doll, IWS** – *Three Blonds*, 18″x22.5″ , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Stephen Edwards** – *The Master’s Bedroom*, 22″x30″,  $1,500, Watercolor

**Fatima Figueiredo, IWS** – *Remote Trail In The Morning*, 15″x22″,  $530.00, Watercolor

**Carol Fink Sackschewsky** – *Bird of Prey – What’s for Dinner*, 13.5”x 22 .5” , $300, Watercolor

**Andrea Fox** – *Recollections of Belgium*, 22”x18” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Deborah Freerksen** – *A Special Place*, 11”’x14” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Sandy Giordano, IWS** – *Keeper of the Keys*, 16”x20” , $400, Watercolor

**David Gregory** – *Gondolier, Venice*, 11”x14.5”,  $900, Watercolor

**Margi Hafer** – *Are We Done Yet?*, 30″x27″ , $1,250, Watercolor

**Barbara Hald** – Kat’s Daffoldils, 16”x12” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Sandra Hart, IWS** –  *The Strategist*,  48”x24”,  $1,200, Watercolor

**Carole Hennessy, IWS** – Amber Waves, 22”x15” , $900, Watercolor

**Michael Ireland** – *Conifer*, 46”x24” , $3,800, Watercolor

**Peter Jeziorski** – *A Family Affair*, 22″x28″ , $950, Watercolor

**Joyce John** – *Awakening*, 7”x14”,  $200, Watercolor

**Laura Keyser** – *Strawberry and Pollinator,* 6″x6″ , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Shefali Khanna** – *Winter Michigan Avenue*, 24”x18” , $300, Watercolor

**Bill King** – *Kettle Korn Kouple*, 20″x24″ , $450, Watercolor

**Julie Kline** – *Autumn Splendor*, 10”x13” , $250, Watercolor

**Robert Koch, IWS** – *Heat Wave, Maine*, 22”x32” , $1,200, Watercolor

**Becky Kraft** – *Find the Ball..Let’s Bounce!*, 26″x 22″,  Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Robert Krajecki, IWS** – *Lily*, 17”x26”,  $2,400, Watercolor

**Debra LePage, IWS** – *Flow in the Time of Corona*, 10”x8” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Gerald Lewis, IWS** – *A View From The Bridge*, 16”x10.5”,  $450, Watercolor

**Mary Anne Lipousky-Butikas** – *The Virginia Theatre*, 17”x24”,  Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Kathy Manning** – *On the Town*, 22”x16.5”,  $350, Watercolor

**Linda Marasco** – *Coffee Al Fresco*, 22″x15″,  $425.00, Watercolor

**Rose Meier** – *Day 37: A Toast to Joe*, 6.5”x4.5” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Rita Molepske, IWS** – *Bridges*, 14.5”x22”,  $450, Acrylic

**Patricia Mroczka, IWS** – *Mystical Lilly*, 11”x11.5” , $600, Watercolor

**Elaine Nunnally, IWS** – *The Rhythm of Flowers*, 15”x22” , $800, Watercolor & acrylic ink

**Cynthia O’Brien** – *Lahu Village*, 11”x14” , $250, Watercolor

**Carolyn Owen Sommer** – *Road Trip*, 20”x16”,  $400, Casein, gouache, clayboard

**Robert Pennor** – *Five pm Shuffle*, 13″x19″,  $600, Watercolor

**Irene Peterson, IWS** – *The Last Wilderness,* 30”x10” , $300, Acrylic

**Barb Plichta** – *A Vintage Recollection*, 9″x12″ , $300, Watercolor

**Megan Ripke** – *Purple Bearded Iris*, 14.5″x19.5″ , $600, Watercolor

**Karen Romani** – *A Frilly Affair,* 12”x9” , $390, Watercolor

**Rita Rosen** – *Winter Scene*, 13″x21″ , $200, Watercolor

**Tony Rubba** – *Surf’s Edge*, 9”x12”,  $300, Watercolor

**Carmelo Schifano, IWS** – *Amore Eterno*, 15”x11” , $1,000, Watercolor

**Linda Schmitt** – *Taking Off*, 26″x34″ , $425, Watercolor

**Dawn Schwartz** – *Three Waterlilies,* 14”x21” , $300, Watercolor

**Mary Ellen Segraves, IWS** – *Colorado Sunset*, 22”x28” , $275, Watercolor

**Diane Shabino, IWS** – *Stumped in Blue Gill Park*, 20.5″x 28″ , $950, Watercolor

**Paula Shuck** – *Abalone and Tuberoses*, 15”x22″ , $450, Watercolor

**Erik Sorensen** – *It’s Alive,* 8.5”x11” , Not For Sale, Gouache

**Scott Stoltman, IWS** – *Tiger Lily Tango*, 18”x18” , $900, Watercolor

**Molly Walsh-Lorenzini** – *Paint Out*, 7.5”x7″ , $50, Watercolor

**Marilynn Warren** – *Heading Home*, 11”x14” , $100, Watercolor

**Nancy Wedow, IWS** – *Tropical Morning*, 10″x 4″ , $300, Watercolor

**Gary Wester** – *Harbor Evening*, 13.5”x21” , Not For Sale, Watercolor

**Gary Wigman** – *The Torch Worker*, 18″x13.5″,  $850, Watercolor

**Rebecca Wilcock** – *Homage to Turner – An English Landscape*, 15″x22″,  $175, Watercolor

**Linda Wilmes, IWS** – *Covered Bridge At Halifax*, 18”x13” , $525, Watercolor

**George Weers** – *Wednesday In the Park*, 19”x14.5” , $500, Watercolor

**Carole Wilson, IWS** – *Canned Goods*, 16”x10.5”, $695, Watercolor

As IWS Director, I want to thank the members for continually supporting IWS and participating in this online members show. It was not ideal situation but turned into a wonderful exhibition. I am continually awed by the artistic vision and technical skills shown by our members. This year, we restructured the awards and granted seven equal Awards of Excellence. This was also our first year of granting awards in a novice category. We felt it was important to encourage beginner painters both in their artistic endeavors and participation in IWS.

Secondly, I want to thank our juror, Peggy Macnamara for her thoughtful consideration of the entries. Due to the subtleties of tone and texture, it is not easy to judge a show of watercolor paintings in a digital format.

I also want to thank the IWS Board members. Launching this show was a team effort. Ken Call handled the online entries, Tony Armendariz managed the finances, Carole Hennessy was the liaison for our juror, Jerry Lewis documented membership renewals, Sylvia Aruffo publicized the show and entry process, Alessandra Ubezio developed the online entry form, and I built the show’s webpage and catalog. All along, Dan Danielson has been working with the OakBrook library and demo artists developing methods of continuing our meetings online.

Although we are not able to gather and enjoy each other’s company and paintings in person, I hope seeing everyone’s work will offer inspiration and encouragement. We have provided pricing information for the paintings. Please contact me at [email protected] for artist contact information.

Again, thank you all for your support and enthusiasm for IWS.

Benita Brewer
IWS Director