The Figure Show - October 2021

1st Place

Wanda Caro

"A Reading Break"

Oil

The way in which the organic, casually-posed figure contrasts with its rigid, grid-like architectural surroundings made this painting intriguing even at a distance. This striking dichotomy in curved and straight forms truly highlights the figure from its background. It emerges from the composition much like the greenery defiantly growing through the cracks of

2nd Place

Andy Coughlan

"Reclining Nude"

Wax Crayon and Ink

This abstract representation of a figure crackles with energy thanks to the bold broad lines, the directional flow of the small scratchy lines, and the vibrant, "funky" colors. Though primarily a very flat piece, there are fun suggestions of volume coming from the smaller scratchy marks. In addition to the sprinkle of tiny geometric shapes ne

3rd Place

Andy Coughlan

"Seated Nude"

Ink

The suggestion of the figure in this piece was adeptly executed through strategic minimal lines. It feels as if no line is out of place - every stroke contributes to the illusion of the figure. The absence of any line might jeopardize the representation, yet any additional line might overcomplicate the piece. It holds an intriguing tension between having too l

Albert Faggard

"Even in Death, There's Love"

The juxtaposition of an ominous skeletal figure with a friendly heart symbol made this painting immediately fascinating. In terms of painting technique, the neutral colored wall is rendered with warm colored brush strokes bouncing between cool colored brush strokes. This creates a deceptive liveliness to a seemingly plain wall which possibly suits the the

Barney Stinnett 

"Alien Artist"

The use of an actual painter's palette at just the right rotation to suggest a child-like abstract profile of a human head is inventive. The entire painting captures the energy and mood of a child making art, which is arguably the kind of headspace many artists strive for while creating. I also like to interpret the paints on the palette coming together as a metaphor 

Thomas Veillon 

"Bathseba & Her Bath"

The choices of colors in this piece are mesmerizing. The exaggerated, practically neon orange highlights and the blue-green shadows cast on the central figure evoke a phenomenally intense sunset. The lighting and vibrant color used to define all the figures feels like a very specific, dramatic window of time as the sun is about to dip below the horizon.