Gold Medal at the OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition!

"Whispers" 8x8, oil on linen panel

 

We are still reeling from the stunning news that Charles' painting "Whispers" was awarded the Gold Medal at the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition last night!

Many thanks to judge Kathie Odom for the award and her wonderful comments about the painting.

Thank you also to Kathryn Beligratis, Suzie Baker and the entire OPA team. And to Rick Reinert and Jason at Reinert Fine Art in Charleston SC for hosting the exhibition.

a screen capture from the online awards ceremony

 Even though the exhibition was hung at the gallery, the awards were presented online. Judge Kathie Odom had wonderful things to say to Charles about the painting:

Okay, this painting ... great things aren't always large paintings. This little jewel is an 8x8, and I saw it immediately is a room full of a hundred or more paintings. I looked at it from as far away as I could get. I went up to it closely, it, it just --- I dreamt about it because I, on the first day I had 3 hours to visit all the paintings, and then the next day I started at 7 in the morning and had 4 hours I guess. It, it, just, I think it's just gorgeous.

If you look at that hand and the shape that it's painted. That, that is just this wonderful surprise of shape, that we all know is so important. And, of course, the light and shadow. But the color, the colors of the paint! The elbows just are lovely! And also the hair. I don't know if you can see it fully --- I think you probably can 'cause I'm sitting here looking at it. But the colors chosen to paint the hair! The drawing, the expression, the wispiness of the whole thing. The background is painted as beautiful as the figure. And ... it just said, it was speaking to me: "It's me! It's me!" <laughs>

I just think it's exquisite. Your application of going thin to thicker, the colors you chose. If you were to tell me before the event that Kathie Odom, a plein air painter, who paints landscapes all the time, would choose this painting, I would have said you were crazy! <laughs> But, it, from the moment, first 15 minutes of walking into a room full of beautiful paintings, this one just stood out to me.

A lot of times less is more, and we all know that, but you really, really painted that, and did it so beautifully. Congratulations!

----- judge Kathie Odom