Many thanks to our juror, Shari Blaukopf, for her work on selecting a beautiful grouping of paintings by our members for Springtide.
Juror’s Statement
It was an immense honour to serve as juror for Springtide 2026. The experience was inspiring and energizing, as the level of skill and creativity on display was at a high level.
Whenever I jury a show, I first look for the foundational skills of strong drawing and a confident understanding of the watercolour medium. From there, I will consider whether a particular work displays thoughtful composition, a fresh use of colour and a sense of design. Having satisfied these basic requirements, I will then move on to perhaps the most important criteria: Does the work stay with me? Does it feel personal, revealing a unique perspective and vision? In a word, is this work expressive.
I confess, narrowing my selections to just 30 works was not easy—the group was that strong. I am grateful to everyone who submitted work, and who shared their dedication to the craft and art of watercolour.
Congratulations to the following VWS artists whose work will be included in the upcoming show, Springtide:
Todd Anderson, Sunrise on Calle Cruz de Quiros, Granada
Barbara Bernsten, Basking in the Sun
Jennifer Brown, Cherry Tree Market, Sintra Portugal
Emily Burkholder, Morning Visitor
Donna Cary, In Full Bloom
Tony Conner, Yellow Barn
Heather Crowley, Sweet Spring Harvest
Lynn Cummings, All in a Days Work at the Beach
Monique Dewyea, Fresh Snowfall
John Dimick, Ponta Delgada
Kathleen Fiske, IRIS
Cindy Handy, Color Burst
Terry Hodgdon, Pier
Doris Ingram, Ed’s Barn
Cheryl Johnson, She Dreamed She Could Fly
Ginny Joyner, Crocus
Ruth Kaldor, Snowbuntings
Nancy Kittredge, Still Life with Crow #2
Martin LaLonde, Spring Chickens
Thomas Leytham, Dried Poppies
Philip Mosciski, Picket Fence
Michael Prairie, Schoodic Splash
Kate Reeves, Wild Weeds
Susan Bull, From the Maine Coast
Judith Selin, The Mysterious Part
Laurie Sigmund, White House and Milk Can
Ann Stafford, Tune-In Turn-Out
Nancy Stone, Tranquility
Trevor Tebbs, Sunrise Orchard, Cornwall, Vermont
Lydia Wisloski, Gram’s Old Fire Fly