The current installment of the California Art Club’s Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition, Spring Awakening, is now on view in a virtual exhibition that features roughly 40 works that were selected by American Art Collector editor, Sarah Gianelli, out of nearly 400 entries.
The award-winning artwork for the juried competition challenged artists to reflect on the season that is synonymous with new beginnings and transformations.
Eric Von Berg, Spring Dusk, Cuesta Ridge, SLO County, oil, 48 x 120"
“After a long cold winter, spring brings a sense of new beginnings and hope,” says Elaine Adams, executive director and CEO of California Art Club. “The artwork that has been selected for the California Art Club’s Excellence in Traditional Fine Art competition represents a variety of paintings and sculptures that range from pastoral scenes, figures, florals and animal life. Each work expresses the individual artist’s interpretation of the theme, ‘spring awakening.’ The quarterly competition is open to all artists and emphasizes preservation of traditional art skills while developing technique and exploring current subjects.”
Paige Bradley, La Nina, bronze, 27 x 11 x 11½"
“There was so much wonderful art in the initial pool of submissions it was difficult to choose what works would be in the show and much more difficult to settle on the winners,” says Gianelli, who eventually chose a sweeping landscape by Eric Von Berg to receive first place. “There is a timelessness, and a peacefulness, to Spring Dusk, Questa Ridge, SLO County that simply made me stop in my tracks.”
David Hu, Take a Look, oil, 16 x 12"
Second place went to La Nina, a bronze of a woman caught in a moment of ecstatic dance, by sculptor Paige Bradley; while a portrait by David Hu received a third place award. An honorable mention was given to Michael Hill for Onion Forest.
“All of these pieces convey a moment of transition or transformation with great technical ability. Von Berg captures the last light of a spring evening. Hu’s portrait depicts a young woman poised between childhood and young adulthood, while Bradley’s bronze leaves you wondering what would happen if you could unfreeze that moment,” Gianelli adds.
Michael Hill, Onion Harvest, oil, 16 x 20"
Established in 1909 by early California impressionists or plein air painters, the historic California Art Club is dedicated to promoting traditional fine arts in the fields of painting, drawing and sculpture, and produce art exhibitions that foster greater understanding of traditional art heritage and California history. Launched in 2021, California Art Club’s quarterly, themed competition encourages artists to develop and refine their classical art skills and spotlights their mastery by providing a new platform for showcasing contemporary-traditional works of art.
The exhibit can be viewed at californiaartclub.org/springcompetition. —
Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition
When: Through June 19, 2023
Where: Online at www.californiaartclub.org/springcompetition
Information: (626) 583-9009, www.californiaartclub.org
Powered by Froala Editor
Powered by Froala Editor
