Waterloo Watercolor Group, Austin, TX

28th Annual Membership Show
    April 22nd --  May 19th, 2006

   JUROR'S  STATEMENT

As a juror my two main questions are:  Did this artist have something to say ?
Did this artist say it well ?   I want to see and feel through the artist's hands, eyes
and heart.
The hand of the artist shows the way she or he talks in paint -- the unique
personal vocabulary.
The eyes of the artist refers to personal vision -- the way the artist sees and designs
the page.  Accepted pieces in the show were well composed.  The artist was aware
of the relationship of the elements and principles of design.
The heart of the artist may be the most meaningful.  The passion and commitment
of choosing to paint what you love is so important.  I believe a bonding happens
when we paint what we love.  If we stay with it, parts of us are left on the page.  Our
paintings are like our children, we hope they do well and we want them to stand
on their own.
Many of us use photos for reference material.  We as artists have the responsibility
to interpret our photos, not just to record.  To make our work stronger we need to
select our passion, personalize it, and exaggerate it.  If we do this, the unique
painting will allow the viewer to see anew and never again return to the previous
vision.  Exaggerating stirs the senses making me want to touch or smell the petal
of the flower or feel the warmth of the western land.
The Waterloo Watercolor Group did it well and encouraged me to see the art
through each artist's hands, eyes and heart.  An art show can truly raise the level
of the dialogue, and this one did.   Thank you for having me as your juror.

     Carole Barnes