Interview with Chuck Danford, Juror

A big "Thank You" to Chuck Danford for jurying the current exhibit "Colorado's Best".  It's a great show.  Please stop in and see the exhibit.  There is also a guided tour of the exhibit on Saturday, March 3 from 2-3pm (led by Kathy Berls.)





Wilderness Chill
Chuck Danford



The following is an informative interview with Chuck:



1. What art principles do you try to employ when you jury an exhibit?

It's important to remember judging is subjective based on the juror’s background, recent accomplishments and struggles. There are many stories of paintings being rejected in one show and winning an award in another.

As a judge or juror for an exhibition I have a list of priorities that I use to evaluate artwork.

1. Concept: Mood or feeling - use of creativity, imagination or unusual idea

2. Design: Interesting composition - interesting shapes both positive and negative

3. Color: How color has been used to convey the subject or mood

4. Values: How lights & darks were used to show depth, dimension and patterns

5. Drawing: Proportions & perspective

6. Craftsmanship: Here I evaluate the technical skills of the medium

7. Presentation: I look for a clean crisp presentation that compliments the painting rather than detracts from it

2. We would love to have your thoughts as you were jurying the "Colorado's Best" Exhibit. If you have any words about the award winners that would be fabulous.

I was honored to jury the “Colorado’s Best” for LAC. It was a challenge to select only a few awards when many others were worthy. All artists should be congratulated for creating the beautiful work that was entered. Congratulations also to those that are relatively new to painting and entering shows. I am well aware of how it feels to not be accepted or to not win an award. Artists should remember this is not as much a reflection on you as an artist, as it is on the process of how shows work. Having the courage to enter the competition is commendable in itself, and I would encourage each artist to keep painting and continue entering shows. I have always liked this quote by Edgar Degas, “ Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do."

Award winners:

Best of Show, "Night Fall" by Gayle MacDougall, is an elegant painting that shows the artists skill with the medium, a sensitivity to color, composition and design. This is a painting I would own and never get tired of looking at it.

Second Place, "African Elephant" by Charlie Casper, is a beautiful photograph which illustrates the skill of the photographer to capture the image in remarkable detail. To capture light and shadow of the subject and then to take it to the next level using digital technology- to make it more than just a photography but truly a work of art, is the key.

The symmetrical composition and color selection is an example of how less can be more.

Third Place, "Iris" by Susan Gordon, is a striking example of creativity. It’s obvious this artist understands various painting techniques and is not afraid to try something different. Nicely designed, gorgeous use of color, strong composition and professionally executed are qualities of a Third Place winner.

Merit Awards (in no particular order)

• Sometimes simplicity is the name of the game. A piece may, at first glance, look simple until you consider the thought process it takes to create it. Strong use of negative space and striking colors with an unusual subject makes this bird image a winner. ("Dancing Crane" by Judith McNickle)

• Beautiful floral, excellent drawing, design and composition, very professional handling of the medium are qualities of this piece.  ("Nature's Bouquet" by Kathy Berls)

• A traditional painting of an interesting subject in a painterly style would make this painting desirable to any western art collector. The artist has used rich colors, a good composition, and a skillful handling of the medium to create a masterful piece of art. ("Just Home" by Gene Smith)

• The unusual subject matter of this painting is an exciting example of creative imagination. This artist has mastered the use color, values and watercolor techniques. ("Skimming" by Jackie McFarland) 

3. What does a day in the life of Chuck Danford look like?

I start my day by getting out of bed, I have a glass of orange juice and take my vitamins. Wait, that’s probably not what you want to know. Most often I start my day by turning on my computer and the TV. Because I’m a news junky I have CBS This Morning with Charlie Rose on while I check my mail. Most days I start and end my day watching Charlie Rose. He is also on at 11:00 PM. A major portion of my day is spent working for the Colorado Watercolor Society, reading and responding to emails, planning and preparing for meetings, working to stay on top of a variety of situations and projects. When I feel for a moment that I have things under control, I think about the next class I am teaching. I plan the lesson. If I’m doing a demo I have to determine the subject and prepare everything that will be needed. Today I may have to mat and frame some paintings, work at a gallery, or deliver a painting. Lately I have been busy painting several masks for The Mask Project to benefit The Denver Hospice. Art has always been a priority in my life, but family activities and grandkids play a significant roll as well. I also spend time at the rec center to keep in shape. This is good for the body as well as the mind.

4. Do you set artist goals? If so, what are yours for the next 3-5 years?

I am a firm believer in setting goals both short and long term goals. Most of my adult life I have set goals. Some I have written down and others I carry around in my head. The older I get the less I feel a need to set career goals. Now my goals tend to be personal- travel, golf, health and family. At this stage I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone as I was back in the days of starting my own business. Now I would rather spend my time enjoying life by sharing and giving back whenever I can.

5. What advice would you give to young artists or those returning to their art in later life?

My advice to any young artist is put your general education first and pursue your art along the way. If I had it to do over I would have studied business first rather than going straight to art school. If you have a passion for art, pursue it! Anyone that works hard, and is talented, will be successful.

For those returning to art in their retirement years, I'd say have fun, try a lot of different things. Do what you enjoy, paint as much or as little as you want. If you want your art to be a second career, remember art is a lifetime pursuit. It is very difficult even for the best artists to make it. That’s not to say it shouldn’t be done, just be realistic in your expectations.

6 .What or whom do you credit for your success as an artist thus far?

I was lucky to have a formal education and a long career in graphic design and advertising when I started painting. Even though fine art is completely different in many ways, I was determined to study and teach myself to paint.

I spent a lot of time learning how other artists used various materials. I watched demos, took notes, tried many different painting techniques, practiced, entered shows and got rejected just like everyone else. I was inspired buy artists like John Mendoza, Bill Condit, Nita Engle, Roland Roycraft, Hugh Greer and George James. After I had been painting a while I studied with Tom Lynch, Tony Couch, Steven Quiller, Michael Atkinson, Lian Zhen, Morton Solberg and Mark Mahaffey.

In fact, I‘m still learning - that is never ending. That's why I continue to do it!  

Colorado's Best Juried Exhibit

Thanks to Chuck Danford, juror, for the new exhibit hanging in the Loft Gallery at LAC.  It's a beautiful show with some stunning pieces.  Congratulations to those who are exhibiting and please try again for those who had pieces not accepted.  This appeared to be a very competitive show which is a "good thing".  It raises the bar for all of us.

A big, hearty congratulations to the award winners:

BEST of SHOW
"Night Fall" Watercolor by
Gayle MacDougall

SECOND PLACE
"African Elephant" Digital
by Charlie Casper

THIRD PLACE
"Iris" Silk
by Susan Gordon

MERIT AWARD
"Nature's Bouquet" Oil
by Kathy Berls

MERIT AWARD
"Skimming" Watercolor
by Jackie McFarland

MERIT AWARD
"Dancing Crane" Digital
by Judith McNickle

MERIT AWARD
"Just Home" Pastel
by Gene Smith

Interview with Juror Joanne Burney



 “Plane Tree II”, oil, 30x20”
Joanne Burney

1. When you jury an exhibit what is the first thing about a painting that jumps out and says "I deserve an award"?

Paintings have presence. They say, “Look at me!” Once a painting gets your attention, you check to see if it is worth an award. (See my criteria below.)

2. Knowing you teach at the Denver Art Students League, what do you find the most rewarding as a teacher?

Being able to share what I know about art. I was very fortunate to have an exceptionally good art education. I went to good schools and studied with great artists and teachers. I feel I owe it to them to pass it on.

3. Your work with trees is amazing. What are the things you have learned about your subject and about yourself with this intimate focus?

Trees have something to say. They are not just fillers in a broad landscape, but are individually worthy of study. They may represent strength, or reaching for the sky (symbolically as well as physically), or silent suffering or abundant beauty – anything. I’m not interested in painting vistas, but as a portrait painter I am interested in character, and trees have plenty of that. At first I was intimidated by their complicated branch structure, foliage and unfamiliar attributes. But I learned that if I stayed with it, I could paint them.

4. What does a day in the life of Joanne Burney look like?

I get up, have coffee and make my husband’s lunch. I exercise, walk the dog, do chores and go to work (paint/art business/teaching). Then I make dinner. After dinner I relax a little and do more “stuff”. Then I walk the dog. Some days I teach all day and into the night. My day looks pretty much like anybody else’s, unless anybody else has kids, servants or no dog.

5. Do you spend time marketing? What activities have you found useful in marketing your art.

Artists have to spend a lot of time marketing. I enter shows, send out newsletters, advertise my classes and workshops, read trade journals and check out galleries.

     6.   Do you set goals for your artwork? What are two of your goals for next year?

I do set goals. Currently I am looking for another gallery and am doing more portraits.

     7.  Any comments you have about the LAC exhibit in general would be most interesting to our readers.

The LAC show looked good right from the start. I wish I’d had more awards to give. While subject matter per se and medium per se are not considerations when I choose a work for award, I was impressed with the range of subject matter and the range in mediums, and the quality throughout, that serendipitously provided me with such variety in the award winners.

Any comments for the award winners?

When I give awards I judge for several things –

1. Form and function (does the piece communicate something and do it appropriately with the composition and materials chosen?),

2. Technique (does the piece show good technique, and do it in such a way that you don’t notice technique, i.e. does the artist make it look effortless and natural – not belabored?),

3. Use of formal elements (has the artist taken full advantage of the use of line, shape, proportion, value, color, texture, gestalt). Whether representational or abstract, the piece has to use them well.

4. The “surprise” (does the piece show something new or something old in a new way?) This does not mean that the piece always is pleasant or communicates a happy mood. It means it touches us in a meaningful way.

The Best of Show had all of those and what a surprise! You just don’t see a piece like that every day.

The 2^nd place oil had a sense of lush technique and great shapes and color, showing wonder at the plays of light and beauty of the flowers.

The 3^rd place had killer color and design, and the surprise that it was a photo of a wall.

The Marge Steinbach award – the patterned integration with the subject of butterflies and background was so perfect to both. The piece had great color and movement and was an inspiration, much as Marge herself must have been to inspire that award.

The Merit Awards

      - The Acrylic Landscape had an exceptional moodiness and a unique look that supported/created it.

      - The Abstract Acrylic also had mood and flow and space, integrating the black into the otherwise colorful    piece very successfully.

      - The Pastel had a lovely, contemplative mood and a beautiful handling of the pastels, especially used to create the various objects in the still-life.

“Ponderosa - Light on the Morraine”, Pastel, 20x16”
Joanne Burney

Spotlight on Colorado Artists Installed

Juror Joanne Burney, instructor from the Art Students League, was happy to know she wouldn't have to reject any entries. She diligently set about selecting the award winners.

Article by Kathy Berls

Wow - what a show! I'm happy to say that the new exhibit is now up and ready for the opening on Thursday, Oct 6th. For awhile there, there was some doubt as to whether it would all fit. When all the registrations came in, we noticed that there were several three dimensional pieces. Since they don't take up wall space, Barbara Tobiska, exhibits co-chair and I decided we'd take a chance and accept all the entries. We knew it would be a big show, but seemed a great way to end our juried exhibits line-up for 2011. Little did we know that many, many of the works would be really, really, really big! Needless to say, once it was all up, I breathed a sigh of relief. The challenge is always how to group the works together so that each piece has a chance to shine. Grouping the pieces according to color harmony, taking into account sizes and dimensions, the artwork is first placed all around the room to see where it will fit. But, it's not until I actually start hammering in the nails that I can be sure. Now it's done and the results produced a wonderful, exciting and diverse show that is not to be missed. Thank you to all the artists who supported this exhibit and a special welcome to those of you who have entered for the first time.

The winners circle

Best of Show winner: Dragon Tails, a stunning wood piece by Arvada artist Jeff Herring.

 A Special memorial award was presented this year in honor of past member Margwyn Steinbach. The award went to "Flutterflies" by Andy McKelvy.

The walls are full of wonderful artwork, including many 3-d pieces.

Interview with Artists Choice Juror, Janet Nunn

A Big Thank You to Janet Nunn who juried the annual LAC's Artists Choice Exhibit now on display at the Lakewood Cultural Center. More information about Janet and her colorful watercolors can be found at her website http://www.janetnunnwatercolors.com/.

Falling Leaves on Little Raven, W/C 30" x 41"

1. What art principles do you try to employ when you jury an exhibit?
One of the first art principles I tried to employ was design. In a few of the paintings the designs lead the viewer into the image to see all of the interesting parts of the piece. There were a few images that were outstanding, yet could have been better with a bit of design to invite more of the viewer.

Elk Parade,W/C 21" x 7"

2. I enjoyed looking at your exquisite watercolors on your website, and couldn't help but be enthralled by your use of color. For those artists struggling with the use of color, do you have any advice or pitfalls to avoid?

For those artists struggling with the use of color my advice it to be fresh with the paint, water, and the surface. Currently I have been using the Dr. Ph. Martin’s Hydrus Watercolors. These colors offer the freshest truest color in my use of painting. What I mean is in tube paints I spent so much paint squirting it right out of the tube only to have it dry in a few hours. With the Dr. Ph Martin’s paints they are fresh every time I use them because they are hydrated and ready to paint. Clean water is a must for watercolor painters! And the last thing is good quality paper or surface. If an artist is going to spend their time on a painting why not us good paper, or board. The mediums mix so well with good materials.

3. We would love to have your thoughts as you were jurying the Artist's Choice. If you have any words about the award winners that would be fabulous.

I was truly impressed at the group of artists and their variety of style. Half of the entries had to be rejected and that was a tough thing to whittle down. Getting rejected is tough, yet is a growing process. A lot of the artists were thinking of spring and I was truly happy with the variety of the floral entries. As for the award winners: Best of show has great design, wonderful use of color and playfulness in the painting with the Koi fish. Second place was a simple piece of a red hinge on a rotted piece of wood. The depth of the red against the detail of the old wood caught my attention. Third place was a group of flowers on a deck and was a nice piece. The way bits of white were used to separate the various blossoms was a nice show of painting skill. As for the merit awards the wooden sun was excellent in the design and the detail of work. This is truly an excellent display of a woodworker who understands their craft! The pen and ink of the horse was another fine display of craft of pen and ink. Every line in the drawing had a purpose. The photograph of the wood and leaves leads you to a change of seasons. The color of the fading leaves and the way the wind had blown them was intriguing. I had about 5 more pieces that I felt could have been award winners. The thing about the winners was the piece of art conveyed an idea that I personally enjoyed.

Frasier Valley, W/C 21" x 10"

4. What does a day in the life of Janet Nunn look like?
My day is a fun day. I enjoy the business side of being an artist. So I respond to many emails, call on vendors, find new vendors, and keep up with my workshops and classes. The craft side of being and artist means painting, drawing, and looking at the world in a different way. The painting and drawing I love to do at all times of the day and night. The looking at the world is fun with long walks on the golf course or cross country skiing in the yard to a bit of traveling. These all amount to how I view my surroundings.

5. Do you set artist goals? If so, what are yours for the next 3-5 years?

Yes, I set artist goals. Usually I find an area I want to paint. For example I have not put many people in my paintings over the years. So for the last few years I have been putting more of the people I see in my images. Another part to that goal is creating more animals in the paintings. There is a different learning curve in introducing new items in the landscapes. This is a bit scary but I always tell myself I have lots of paper so if I am not too happy with the final product I have learned a lesson along the way and I will start again. Another goal I have is to teach more people how to enjoy painting. Most people can and enjoy painting, however, they have become lost because of many reasons. Classes are a way to jumpstart those creative juices and find that inner joy in creating a piece of art. The classes are as rewarding for me as they are to the participants. Always learning means always growing as an artist!

Cascade of Roses, W/C 8" x 20"