An Honorable Mention and Astute Juror Comments

An Honorable Mention and Astute Juror Comments
Embracing our Differences, by Polly Castor

Embracing our Differences (22″x30″ pastel) by Polly Castor

I like the artists in Maine, and I’m there enough (and want to go to their plein air retreats), so I became a member of the Pastel Society of Maine a couple years ago. In this first show of theirs since my joining, much to my surprise, one of my abstractions got an honorable mention– in what otherwise is a largely representational show.

I was delighted by this, especially since the juror, an esteemed man named Robert Carsten, wrote comments on the winning entries, and I just loved what he said. The purpose of this post is save his words where I’ll have them going forward.

An abstract artist deals quite a lot with being misunderstood, so when someone understands as well as this gentleman did, it is a happy relief. Maybe his comments will help you understand too. Here are his words:

“This artist uses a mostly blue/orange complementary palette to bring both contrast and overall harmony to a dynamic, complex composition. I find this painting stunning in its use of shape, line, pattern, movement, repetition, and color. There are radial, contour, and straight lines. Some thicker lines accentuate edges of forms, others teeter between line and form. There is a powerful sense of rhythm and movement as the large, orange shape is embraced by its surrounding, blue form. It’s a painting about an idea, a concept rather than objects, and yields a meaningful message.”

So very grateful to be so well understood by someone I respect, who doesn’t know me at all.

I work to amplify good wherever I find it. I love color, texture, beauty, great ideas, nature, metaphor, deliciousness, genuine spirituality, and exploring new territory. I encourage authenticity, nurture creativity, champion sustainability, promote peace, and hope to foster a new renaissance where we all are free to be our most fulfilled, multifaceted, and terrific selves. Read more here.

4 Comments

  1. JOSEPH DAHLET HERRING 3 years ago

    Congratulations!

  2. Jude 3 years ago

    Congratulations! It’s indeed intricate and beautifully amazing !

  3. Meg Hanson 3 years ago

    Wonderful!

  4. Sue Krevitt 3 years ago

    Congrats, Polly!

    What a Wonder-full and Amazing Experience
    Of Divine Mind’s infinite Expression of Art
    Throughout Her Creation
    For Us All to Enjoy!

    What a Uni-Verse!!!!!

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