Standard Fine Art Judge: LEO NEUFELD
Leo Neufeld was impressed by the quality of the work accepted into the 27th MasterWorks of New Mexico exhibit. He stated that he was honored to have been asked to judge this exhibit. Leo congratulated all who participated in the show and that it was very difficult to choose the works which ultimately received the awards. He noted that judging is a subjective endeavor and not to be discouraged if you did not receive an award.
Leo spoke of looking for the artist’s vision in each painting. He was drawn to work that spoke from the heart. He looked for a human connection in the painting process; the language of the paint application; the play of lost and found edges that sing, dance and create poetry. Leo said that when working from a photograph, it is important to transcend the photograph, which allows the painting to rest on its own merit. He encourages artists to speak their truth and tell their own story. “Paint what you love!” is his best advice
Bio: After receiving my BA from UW-Madison I met a brilliant portrait painter, James Ingwersen, from Chicago who told me to quit my job and go to art school! I moved to NYC where I studied for five years at the Art Students League of NY and the National Academy with many remarkable artists such as Ted Seth Jacobs, Harvey Dinnerstein, and David Leffel to name a few! After having a major at the Grand Central Gallery I landed a teaching position at the National Academy and the New York Academy. I’ve been teaching for over 40 years. I’ve had numerous exhibitions and I’m in numerous private and public collections!!
Standard Fine Art Jurors
Janet Bothne
Janet Bothne has been ‘weaving’ color in her vibrant works for over 3 decades. Her focus on the paint itself being the subject matter has taken this former realist into a new practice that balances gut vs. brain, chaos vs. organization and a zen-like approach which results in works that straddle the familiar and the enigmatic.
She studied art at the U Of Massachusetts at Amherst, and after two years, she set out to make her mark, restoring antiques, painting murals for businesses and drawing portraits. In 1996, she threw herself into her art full-time, making the transition from fastidious realism to her unique abstractions. Since that time, Bothne has exhibited in numerous venues, across the country, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Santa Monica Art Museum. Her art is held in private and corporate collections around the world.
She opened “Studio J Contemporary” in Los Ranchos where she shared her artistic theories with her students. She has now returned to focusing on her own work and stretching her imagination with more experimentation and new materials.
“Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, and while you might not realize it at the time, it’s the universe telling you it’s time to start a fresh chapter,” she says. “For me, it has also been an opportunity to find more balance in my life.”
David Schwindt
An active plein-air painter as well as a studio painter, David Schwindt is known for his landscape paintings of the Southwest. Collectors looked forward to his annual solo show at Framing Concepts in Albuquerque for 22 years. He graduated from Fort Lewis College with a degree in Art and minors in Music and Humanities, studied with watercolor masters, Millard Sheets, Milford Zornes, and others through the New Mexico Watercolor Society where he served as President. He studied oil painting with Wilson Hurley, Zhang Wenxin, Clyde Aspevig and others, and has passed on his knowledge by teaching at the Scottsdale Artists School, Albuquerque Academy Summer School, and workshops around the Southwest. He has published articles in The Artist’s Magazine and has been featured in many other art publications and newspaper articles. He currently lives in the North Valley of Albuquerque and paints outdoors regularly with old friends and new.
Gayle Weisfield
From her earliest memory, Gayle was an adventurer, a risk taker and always an artist. Formally trained in art and architecture she received a BFA from the U of Washington. She soon became a professional artist, teacher, and entrepreneur. Courage, curiosity and wander lust has taken Gayle around the world to explore the art and culture of strange and interesting lands: Asia, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America, evolving and honing her craft. Her life’s experience is a series of creative adventures: inventor, watercolor artist, teacher, traveler, saloon-keeper, and restorer of historic buildings.
When asked how to become a successful artist, Gayle says, ”live an interesting life.” Her energy and enthusiasm lead her down many a different path, but painting has always been the force that shaped her life.
Gayle’s award-winning art is in many collections. She is a member of the Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for the West, and a signature member of the NM, Taos, Missouri, and NW Watercolor Societies.
Taos is her spiritual home, where she feels the land, the sky, and the people directing some of her best work.
Mini Fine Art Judge: DENALI BROOKE
It was such an honor to judge this beautiful show. While some artists executed a strong sense of design and demonstrated a mastery of their medium, others focused on the delight and power of story-telling. All the miniatures had something unique to offer. Some actually drew me further into the piece, causing me to stay longer and see more. This is the enchanting nature of any piece of art, but is especially true, and I believe most challenging, about a miniature.
For future shows, and in particular for 2D pieces, I believe one should pay close attention to framing. It is an integral part of a miniature – it should not distract, but compliment and create an important container from which the viewer will look and stay – stay being the operative word. This is also the case for pieces that consider the foreground, middle ground, and background (where applicable). When looking at a piece I often ask, Where are you leading me and what do you want me to see when I get there? In other words, consider what could be the second act to the main event.
To all the artists, thank you for reminding me what power the miniature has to delight and intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. You have inspired me to paint in miniature again!
Bio: Whether through realism, impressionism or abstraction, Denali Brooke’s subject matter is often represented with energetic mark-making, bold strokes, and broken color. Much of her work is inspired by nature, and from painting en plein air where she enjoys the experience of unpredictable weather patterns and surprise wildlife visitations. In New Mexico, Denali taught classes and workshops in figure drawing and pastel painting for 8 years, and volunteered for various organizations including MasterWorks of NM’s Pastel Steering Committee. Today she continues to find a way to connect with other artists through her facilitation of online work sessions and critiques. She has received awards from juried shows in miniature painting, plein air painting, and standard works; and most recently, from the International Association of Pastel Society (IAPS) Exhibitions 2019 and 2022. She is an IAPS Master Circle pastel artist and signature member of the Pastel Society of America. She currently works with ArtLifting.com where reproductions of her art are available. See more about her and her art at denalibrooke.com.
Mini Fine Art Jurors
Gail Murray
I live in La Cienega, NM with my artist husband, Paul and Cloud, our Feline Furry Murray. My handmade paper art has exhibited in numerous NM venues, including several years in the State Capitol Rotunda show. As a member of the Santa Fe Book Arts Group (BAG) since 2008, I have participated in all annual exhibits, projects, workshops and annual collaborative books.
Over the years, my books have been displayed in libraries, and the “Celebration of the Book” exhibit at the Santa Fe Community College fine art gallery and NM History Museum in Santa Fe.
My award-winning, hand-made miniature books (Paw Print Press) have been exhibited in MasterWorks for many years. The books are covered in decorative papers I have painted in water colors, acrylic, or sumi-e ink. Each book’s pages contain my original art and haikus.
Toni Seidel
I graduated from the U of Arizona in 1975 with a Bachelor of Architecture. I practiced architecture in AZ, CO, and NM for 30 years.
Before I retired I began to take watercolor classes in the evenings. After I retired I decided to focus on improving my watercolors now that I had the time. I’ve take numerous classes from a variety of instructors. I like learning about watercolor from many different points of view. I always find something I can take away and use.
After becoming a member of The Artist Studio, my paintings really began to improve. Working every day and being surrounded by nurturing artists helped me develop as an artist. I consider all the other artists at The Artist Studio as mentors. Everyone tries to be encouraging, but also critical when needed. I always have someone to go to when I’m stuck.
Tina Stallard, NMWS, WFWS
Tina has been an art teacher and student for 35+ years. She taught art in the Corrales School, private lessons with kids and adults in her studio, and workshops. She loves watercolors and enjoys sharing her passion with others. She is a signature member of the NM Watercolor Society and of Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. She is an active member of NMWS and teaches on occasion at the NM Art League and privately at her studio in Corrales.
She received her degree in Graphic Design from UC Berkeley Extension and has had the opportunity to take workshops from some inspiring artists like Milford Zornes, Jane Hofstetter, David Daniels, Laurie Goldstein, John Salminen, Thomas Schaller and Dorothy Vorhees. She enjoys painting animals, land and city scapes and graphic still lifes, but also the unusual and funny. She has had the honor to receive some awards and recognition from local, state, national and international shows. Her body of work includes traditional watercolors, poured watercolor and acrylics, standards and miniatures.