The Stars of Texas Juried Art Exhibit held their eighth annual Paint-Off Competition at the Depot Civic and Cultural Center Saturday, awarding two talented artists for their ability to create a work of art in just six hours.
Fifteen artists participated in the competition, in media of oil, acrylic and pastel. Their works were judged by David E. Harmon, professor of art and chair of the Department of Art at Howard Payne University. Harmon explained that art is universal, can speak to its viewer no matter what their language, and in this type of competition is unique because it is limited in time, resulting an a la prima style, which is “fresh and new” or “spontaneous.”
Harmon critiqued each work, one by one, until he narrowed the pool to two winners. He gave each artist ideas of how to improve their work and comments on their strengths.
Patsy Irons of Palestine, Texas was awarded the Paint-Off Best Overall Award and a $500 cash prize.
Harmon said that Irons’ painting has “an atmospheric perspective, highlighting the power of nature and spirituality.” He also complemented Irons for being daring enough to paint a landscape on a square canvas, which sometimes brings a challenge of overcoming too much symmetry.
Irons’ subject matter came from the backyard of a property that she and her husband own in New Mexico. Inspired by the gently falling first snow of the season, her painting featured the landscape and weather that day.
Irons is a self taught artist of over 50 years who stated that she often sought out other artists to learn things she felt were “something I needed to know and learn.” Irons is no stranger to the Stars of Texas Exhibit, having competed in it about 12 years. She entered three paintings that did not make it into the main exhibit but are on display and have sold in the Salon des Refuse. Of her painting style, Irons stated that she works in “palette knife impressionism.”
“This style gives a smoother texture than usual, with subtle blending with a little brush work,” explained Irons. For this painting, she explained that she used a khaki colored acrylic base to help the color of the oils “pop.”
Second place, the Paint-Off Award of Excellence, along with a $250 cash prize was presented to Pat Cheney of Graham.
Cheney stated that his painting was actually a combination of two locations to get the balance of composition. This year marks Cheney’s fifth year to compete in the paint-off. Cheney has been painting for more than 15 years and has three paintings that were accepted into the main exhibit.
Both artists’ works will be on display for the remaining week of the exhibit.
Pictured above are paint-off winners Cheney (left) and Irons (right).
Below are paintings entered in the competition.
Patsy Irons, Palestine
Pat Cheney, Graham
John de Bessonet, Frankston
Ruth Ann Freeman, Palestine
Kit Timmons, Brownwood
Joy Schumacher, Belton
Milton Sin, Brownwood
Judy Kirksey, Brownwood
Brenda Shaw, Brownwood
Anthony Brown, Abilene
Linda Eggleston, Brownwood
Avalon Hicks, Brownwood
Jean Hensley, Ballinger
Sandra McSwain, Brownwood
