CONWAY — Morrilton artist Coe Wilson said her painting Color Mode “doesn’t represent anything.”
While that may be true in the sense that its style is nonrepresentational, it’s bound to represent something now, as it has been selected the Best of Show winner in the 2013 Conway League of Artists Tri-County Show and Competition on display at the Faulkner County Library.
“I’m elated,” said Wilson, who is president of the Conway League of Artists. “In talking with other artists in the league, they’ve told me this is a once-in-a-lifetime honor. I am delighted about winning.
“I was truly surprised that I won. When I saw the works of all these other artists on display, I thought I didn’t have a chance to win anything.”
Wilson said she knew the judge, Amy Hill-Imler of Little Rock, had a degree in design from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio, so Wilson chose this particular example of her work as one entry in the Tri-County Show. “I chose this piece because it follows the rules of design.
“It met all the criteria for design.”
Another of Wilson’s paintings received a second-place ribbon in the Oil or Acrylic category. Titled Heart Song, this painting is realistic in style.
“I swing back and forth between ultra-realistic and nonrepresentational,” Wilson said of her styles of painting. “The public seems to like the realistic paintings better.
“I love bright colors. In fact, I’m a little on the gaudy side. I wanted to do something that is just pure design and nonrepresentational.”
Wilson said she thinks the Tri-County Show is a wonderful show.
“It really shows the amazing work the artists in the area are doing,” she said.
This year’s show and competition included 79 entries. It will remain on display through Nov. 23.
One other special award is given in the Tri-County Show and Competition — the Jackie Guerin Memorial Award for Beauty in Nature. Sandra Ake of Conway received that award and $100 for her painting Dogwood.
First-place winners in each category received $100; second-place, $50; and third-place, $25.
Other winners include
the following:
Oil or Acrylic —
• Robert Rubow of Conway, first place for his entry Aiesha.
• Karen Freeman of Conway, third place, Thirsty Deer.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Marvin Crummer of Vilonia, Hanging Baskets; Susan Peterson of Conway, Soar No. 2; Karen Freeman, Cactus at Enchanted Bank; Lois Giorgis of Conway, Free; and Mary McArthur of Morrilton, The Old Farm House.
Water-Based Media —
• Ann Cullum of Conway, first place for her entry Aaron.
• Suzann Waggoner of Mount Vernon, second place, In the Wake of Near Tragedy.
• Joyce Hartmann of Clinton, third place, Ephemeral Fantasy.
• Dorothy Imhauser of Morrilton, honorable mention, Barn in the Valley.
Drawing and Mixed Media, including pastels, ink, pencil and collage —
• Penny Rubow of Conway, first place for her drawing titled Wet Sheets.
• Van Swink of Fairfield Bay, second place for a mixed-media piece, White Sea.
• Jennifer Jones of Morrilton, third place for a drawing titled Tonto.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Joyce Hartmann for a mixed-media piece, Bounty in the Depths; Rosalie Musial of Greenbrier for a pastel, Big Tom; and Cathy Wester of Conway for a drawing, Two Hands and a Foot.
A special award in this category was given to John Lee King of Conway for a pastel titled Giving Tree.
Photography (including enhanced) and Computer-Generated —
• Mercedes Lide of Little Rock, first place for her entry Friends.
• Suzann Waggoner, second place, Half Moon Rising.
• Cathy Wester, CDW 6422.
Three-Dimensional Installations —
• Vernon Ballay of Conway, first place for his entry Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.
• Karen Freeman, second place, Textured Vase.
• Holly Pilgrim of Conway, third place, Dancer.
Honorable mentions were awarded to Lois Giorgis for her entry Remembering; and Rita Mackintosh of Conway for a bowl.
The Conway League of Artists will present its Christmas Show at the Faulkner County Library in December.
“The show will feature small pieces of art, which would make wonderful Christmas gifts,” Wilson said.
The Conway League of Artists meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Faulkner County Library. During the winter, meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the league, contact Wilson at (501) 727-5559 or coewilson2@att.net, or visit www.conwayleagueofartists.org.