Mission San Jose Church Doors, 30 x 30
by Nancy Lilly
Price: $6,000
Jeanne Rosier Smith, judge and juror, comment:
This stunning piece shows off the best aspects of pastel. Vibrant intense blues layered over warm terra cotta, creating cool shade in the summer heat, and imply intricate detail rather than spelling it out. The artist uses shifts in color and texture masterfully to let us see light, so while we’re looking at a relatively shallow space we never tire of the intricate areas of depth. This piece looks utterly realistic and at the same time keeps us aware of the surface of the paper and the beauty of the crystals of pigment unique to pastel.