The People Voted!

I just learned that my painting “Heart To Heart” won another very special award in the 2019 Oak Ridge Open Show (which ended in November)… the “Open Show Viewer’s Choice Award.” This award is tabulated at the end of the show, by the votes from those who viewed the show during its display for over two months. This black Scratchbord® was one of my two paintings in the show and won an award from the judge – “Sorghum Maker” was my second work juried into this 65th annual exhibition.

The director of the Oak Ridge Art Center told me: “You won for “Heart to Heart” and it was a landslide. When we counted the votes, I think the nearest piece to that one was about half the votes. You also received a few votes for the “Sorghum Maker,” but not anywhere near the scratch board. It was a favorite of so many and when they asked what scratch board was and we explained the technique, people were amazed.”

I am delighted that one of my scratchboards has proven to be so popular, particularly because this show included all types of two- and three-dimensional arts, in many different media. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, fiber arts, ceramics, jewelry, photography, metal arts and mixed media were among those entered. From around 350 entries, the juror selected 106 for the show.

“Heart To Heart” is a very special personal painting for me, and it is displayed in a place of honor in my house now. It depicts my beloved dog Ellie Mae, who died in October at nearly 13 years old after a slow battle with cancer, and Jasper, our sweet 8 year old cat who became blind last summer due to retinal detachment as a side effect of kidney disease. His eyes are no longer yellow and bright and he has adjusted amazingly well to his loss of sight.