By: Kara Szymanski | Shelby-Utica News | Published November 21, 2022
SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Township Fine Art Society earlier this month announced the first-, second- and third-place winners at the 2022 Shelby Township Fine Art Society Library Show.
In addition to the top three, Christina Haylett, who judged the show, gave out three honorable mentions. She told the artists that it was an honor to judge the show and that she wished that she could give out more awards.
Artist Tony Warren won first place for his watercolor, “Shore House.” He said that his painting was inspired by a U.S. Coast Guard station that he saw while visiting the Lake Superior shore in the Upper Peninsula.
“It is a stylistic interpretation of the picturesque Superior shoreline,” he said. He has had a lifelong interest in marine art.
Diane Radke won second place for “Ring My Bell.” Radke said “Ring My Bell” is 100% colored pencil, and the subject matter is based on the bells she was given after her open heart surgery.
“The one bell did not have the clapper attached, so I couldn’t ring for help. I’ve worked in colored pencil for over 25 years because it is portable, offers a wide variety of creative uses, and can be mixed and blended. This picture required many layers of different blacks to the white paper to become the solid black yet still allow for the application of the brighter colors in the bells. My artwork has won many awards and has been juried into local, regional and national exhibits. I’ve taught colored pencil for over 20 years and still teach regular workshops,” she said.
“Balustrade,” by Catherine Lawrence, won third place in the show. The artwork has its origin in a photo she took during a visit to the Michigan Capitol.
“I was intrigued by the structure of the staircase, as I am naturally drawn to architecture and geometric forms and structure, which influences most of my artwork. Balustrade is known as a monotype, due to the process of painting directly onto a plate and transferring the painted or drawn surface to paper, producing one (mono), unique image,” she said.
The three honorable mentions went to Matt Bommarito for “Wally’s Garage,” Sara Katsavrias for “Beach on Anna Maria” and Bea Allebone for “Never Forget.”
Bommarito said he was inspired to do “Wally’s Garage” on a trip to Mount Airy, North Carolina, where he spent the day visiting and taking photos at the Andy Griffith Museum. Bommarito said he had always loved and had an interest in “The Andy Griffith Show,” which was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, based on Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy.
“Wally’s Garage” is an oil painting, while “Beach on Anna Maria” and “Never Forget” are acrylics. The show ended Nov. 22.