We the jury...

The Belleville Artists Association's annual juried art show selection is Saturday Sep 20.  I will be jurying  along with Prince Edward County artist Mile Murtanovski. It's not an easy job, but it's exciting.  Hey, it's lookin at art!!   There are around 100 entries; 60  are to be chosen from these for the show. 
What will I be looking for?   Impact.  Originality.  Proficiency.  Passion.  Vision.  Structure.  Cohesion.  In the end any jury decision comes down to an opinion.  That is all.  That is the nature of it.  Different jurors will have different opinion's and the decisions of the jury will be influenced by that.  For anyone (like me)who has been disappointed by the opinion of a jury in the past, take heart.  It is only an opinion, and probably one from someone who see's quite differently from you.  If there is one thing we need to know as artists, it is to listen to our own voice.  Constructive thoughts can be helpful, but opinions are arbitrary. 

photo resources & thumbnail

Here's what I've been working on in the studio yesterday and today.  It's still a work in progress, but I'm liking the direction it's taking so far.  You can see the photos I'm working from and the thumbnail sketch for the square format. I'm working on a 30x30" canvas which I love working big, but it's funny I find it takes more planning.  I have to premix amounts of paint ahead, as I need more of it to cover areas that I would normally sweep on with one stroke on a smaller panel.  I now know that is why smaller works often have so much more vitality.  Anyway...

work in progress - oil on canvas - 30x30"