Juror Statement

The Tennessee Watercolor Society is a vibrant and thriving community that comes together to celebrate the joy and beauty of watermedia. It was both an honour and a pleasure to serve as the juror for this exceptional show.

As artists, we visually express our thoughts, ideas, and personalities through our work. We create for ourselves, driven by our own inspirations, making personal fulfillment the ultimate measure of success. However, in a juried exhibition, success is determined by the juror’s standards and criteria, within the constraints of a limited selection.

For this exhibition, I was tasked with choosing 45 paintings from 151 entries submitted by 69 artists. The sheer number of outstanding and skillfully executed works made this an incredibly challenging process, as many exceptional paintings needed to be eliminated.

That is the reality of a juried show. My goal is always to curate an exhibition that offers a visual feast and showcases a diverse range of artistic voices. I look for paintings that are sincere, honest, and creative—ones that demonstrate strong design, thoughtful colour choices, and a unique perspective. I am particularly drawn to work that conveys a sense of place or captures a fleeting moment or emotion. In addition to selecting the eight paintings for cash awards I felt a need to identify additional paintings for Special Appreciation. I selected seven paintings for this recognition.

Entering a juried show requires courage—it means putting your work “out there” for critique. To everyone who took that leap and submitted their paintings to TnWS, I offer my heartfelt congratulations! I deeply appreciate each piece that was shared, and I assure you, selecting the final group was no easy task. I hope that as you view this exhibition and choose your personal favourites, you find some selections that resonate with you.

To the accomplished artists included in this show, congratulations! I also extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who made this exhibition possible. It has been a privilege to judge the TnWS Exhibition.

A final thought: Throughout history, artistic trends have come and gone—styles, subjects, and techniques shift with time. As a juror, I seek fresh, exciting ideas. I encourage you to be a trend-setter rather than a trend-follower. Embrace your creativity and embark on your own path of artistic discovery.

Respectfully, Linda Kemp