Judge of Awards Statement

It has been a pleasure to judge BIG SPLASH for honors and awards. All of the entries were strong—and it was a challenge to choose.

The still life, the landscape, abstraction, and figurative works were invigorating. The Juror’s Choice award is presented to Janet M. Doll for her Basket of Bananas painting. The obvious mastery of watercolor resonated throughout her piece. The soft and enveloping composition invite the viewer to ponder the nuances of the bananas in a confrontational way.

The Jack Richeson Company awards to Miriam Krone, William Curtis, Donna Johnson, and Kathleen Bromm are all strong and vital examples of watercolor technique of the highest caliber.

I was particularly impressed by the volume of outstanding pieces—and the variety and breadth of approach.

Transparent watercolor is a versatile medium. All the different voices reflected here are delightful to behold. It is wonderful to see that watercolor is thriving in St. Louis!

- Carol Carter

Carol Carter received her MFA from Washington University, St. Louis. She received a MAA-NEA Fellowship in Painting and Works on Paper in 1994. Voted Best St. Louis Artist by The Riverfront Times in 2000. In 2002 her work was chosen for the cover of New American Painting magazine and in 2003, the US Embassy sponsored a solo exhibition of her work at the Teatro del Centro de Arte, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Ms. Carter has been visiting artist in Oslo and Stavanger, Norway, in 1999, 2001, and 2003. The Schmidt Art Center in Belleville, IL held a solo exhibition in 2006. She was invited to be in the National Watercolor Biennial at Parkland College in February. She is featured artist in the Herstory invitational at SWIC in Granite City, IL. A retrospective of her work will be held at the Turner Center for the Arts in Valdosta, GA. Different Strokes, by Quartro Publishing, in London, England is featuring her work.

Ms. Carter's work is represented in many public and private art collections, including those of Citicorp, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Arjomani Paper, Leonard Slatkin, Price University, and Utah State University.

Juror’s Choice Award $250 Saint Louis Watercolor Society Award Janet M. Doll Basket of Bananas
$150 Jack Richeson Award Miriam Krone Clementine Nannies	$150 Jack Richeson Award Willian Curtis Mellow Yellow
$150 Jack Richeson Award Donna Johnson All In A Row	$150 Jack Richeson Award Kathleen A. Bromm No Parking
$100 HK Holbein Award Harry B. Richman Rolling Iron	$100 Winsor Newton Award Daven Anderson The Glow
$100 Daler Rowney Award Kevin Haller Done Pulling (Hermann)	$75 Jerry’s Artarama Award Joan S. Rauch Quiet Nesting
$60 Creative Catalyst Productions Barbara Martin Smith Heartland View	$60 Creative Catalyst Productions Linda S. Wilmes Lord Have Mercy
$60 Camlin North America Award Mirka M. Fetté Stop and Smell the Roses	$50 Blick Art Materials Award Leah Tomsky Ms. Mary’s World
$50 Roz Flax Memorial Award—Saint Louis Watercolor Society Leonard Scheffler View From High Post Rd.	$50 Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Award Diana Saffo Bono Diana’s Flowers
$30 Royal Langnickel Award Sister Jo Nemec, SSND Shapes and Shadows of Florida	$30 Royal Langnickel Award Susan G. Holtzman Leaves
$30 Daniel Smith Award Elizabeth Concannon Cosmos II	Honorable Mention Loris Butterfield Destiny
Honorable Mention Shirley Nachtrieb Filtered Lights IV	Honorable Mention Terri Myer Red Boat, Buano
2006 Big Splash Winners