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Best in Show!

August 9, 2021

Exciting news to report! My painting “The World has Appetites of its Own”, (Oil on canvas, 30×60″), has won the Antoinette Stevens Award for Best in Show at the Society of Canadian Artists 53d Open International Juried Exhibition. < Follow the link to view the entire show online.

The award comes with a weighty bronze medal, which has me feeling very Olympic. I’m very grateful of course to the Society and the judges. It’s a tremendous honor!

This was an online show, which means of course we miss the chance to see people and their work in person. But, on the other hand it is nice to be able to enter work of any size, and not to have to ship the work across the country.

As well – probably more people will see this post, than would have gone to a physical exhibition, so, there is that as well.

I would hope that we’ll keep doing online shows, even after the pandemic is resolved. There are ways of course we can make the online experience better, including something like this! Posting detail shots and work-in-progress along with the final artwork. One day we can offer an AR experience where we can see the piece on the walls of our home! I’m looking forward to online exhibitions getting better and better ever year.

Here’s a glimpse back in time, what it looked like after the first sketch. I kind of miss some of the unfinished, immediate nature of the sketch. Someday I will try something similar and see where I can land between the first impression, and a more advanced rendering.

Thanks! ~Marc

48 Comments leave one →
  1. Gerry Draper permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:26 PM

    Congratulations!

  2. Frank Bettendorf permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:30 PM

    CONGRATULATIONS! Lovely image that says more than words and you are well deserving of the award. Thanks for posting as I always enjoy seeing your work and how it is evolving. Frank

  3. August 9, 2021 1:31 PM

    Congratulations! Well deserved. I love the work❤️

  4. Suzanne Dundon permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:38 PM

    Congratulations on your award and amazing painting!

    Get Outlook for iOS ________________________________

  5. Marcia Milner-Brage permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:42 PM

    Bravo! An epic work! Congratulations.

  6. Cathy Drake permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:46 PM

    Congratulations!!

  7. August 9, 2021 1:53 PM

    Congrats Marc, well deserved

  8. Robert Coleman permalink
    August 9, 2021 1:57 PM

    Beautiful work, congrat’s on an award much deserved! At full size it is impressive! Many of us have followed your work and development in watercolor and then oils, and this painting is a major leap forward. Just remarkable!

  9. nathaliezinger permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:00 PM

    Fabulous painting Marc. Congratulations for the well deserved recognition. Can’t wait to see it for real.

  10. Hariette permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:14 PM

    Stunning! What a super painting.
    Well done!

  11. cathybarryartist permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:18 PM

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That’s a large painting- well deserved!

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  12. Barbara pelly permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:31 PM

    Congratulations Marc. Beautiful painting

  13. rhondacaplan permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:47 PM

    CONGRATS.

    WELL DESERVED.

    A fan,(lol)

    Rhonda Carson

  14. Lucy T. permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:48 PM

    Absolutely breathtaking piece! This is truly a well deserved award Marc!
    Lucy

  15. Cindy Cali permalink
    August 9, 2021 2:52 PM

    Congratulations from Pennsylvania! It’s amazing!

  16. robynfrance permalink
    August 9, 2021 3:07 PM

    Big congratulations to you! It’s a marvelous painting and you’ve got a special vision.

  17. August 9, 2021 3:20 PM

    Many congratulations Marc – your painting is stunning – a well deserved honour

  18. Susan permalink
    August 9, 2021 3:30 PM

    Congratulations! Well-deserved by a fabulous artist. 😊👍💖

  19. susan iwata permalink
    August 9, 2021 3:55 PM

    The painting is fantastic. The movement of the space and fish are perfect so are your colors and execution. Congratulations on your award!!!

  20. August 9, 2021 4:50 PM

    Congratulations! What a cool painting!

  21. August 9, 2021 5:39 PM

    Congratulations, Marc,,,,I’ve followed your work for eons. Well done.

  22. Susan Weaver permalink
    August 9, 2021 5:53 PM

    Congratulations !

  23. Bernadette permalink
    August 9, 2021 6:06 PM

    Congratulations Marc, well deserved, beautiful work!

  24. Ellie Romelli permalink
    August 9, 2021 6:49 PM

    Heartiest congratulations!!! And a well deserved honor.

  25. Carol-Lynn Bond permalink
    August 9, 2021 6:56 PM

    Heartfelt congratulations, Marc. It’s a fascinating work. I’ve been following you for some years now, and this award marks a huge achievement for you. Onwards and upwards!

  26. Rooi Ping Lim permalink
    August 9, 2021 8:07 PM

    its brilliant Marc.. the idea and title are so clever you clever chap!

  27. August 9, 2021 8:41 PM

    Olympian indeed! Congratulations

  28. August 9, 2021 9:52 PM

    Wow! It looks very nice and it’s a very large painting. I hope It will be possible to see It in real.

  29. August 9, 2021 9:53 PM

    Wow! Congratulations.

  30. Suzanne permalink
    August 10, 2021 1:56 AM

    Congratulations! Well deserved!

  31. Carol McClendon permalink
    August 10, 2021 2:28 AM

    Congratulations! I’ve enjoyed following your website and processes as you work. Thank you for sharing your expertise.

  32. August 10, 2021 2:58 AM

    Congratulations Marc! Your work is inspiring and it’s super cool to be able to follow your journey! : )

  33. joyjoy888 permalink
    August 10, 2021 3:38 AM

    Fantastic! Well deserved prize! Congratulations! Joy 🤩

    Sent from my iPad

    >

  34. August 10, 2021 6:11 AM

    Congratulations. A great work.

  35. August 10, 2021 6:12 AM

    Congratulations. A great work!

  36. Joan Shouldice permalink
    August 10, 2021 9:35 AM

    Congratulations!Joan

  37. August 10, 2021 2:53 PM

    Congrats, Marc. Love the subject matter.

  38. Kiriaki permalink
    August 10, 2021 7:45 PM

    . Congratulations !

  39. marclepine permalink
    August 11, 2021 8:40 PM

    Marc ! Marc!

    Your painting is incredible! Well deserved prize! Thanks for showing us details and mostly,… the painting on its easel. It is the only way to judge the size. I have lots of words in French to qualify your… masterpiece, but my English has not enough words to be able to translate them. Imagine them !!!!! Félicitations !!!! Congratulations, Marc!!!!

    Marc

    >

  40. Estelle DeRidder permalink
    August 11, 2021 11:26 PM

    Congratulations!!! So proud to have had you as an instructor . . .keep up the good work. E

  41. August 12, 2021 4:01 AM

    Spectacular piece!

  42. roxannesteed permalink
    August 14, 2021 7:38 PM

    Congratulations on a well-deserved award for an amazing painting!!! (and I’m so proud to own 2 original watercolors of yours!). Cheers to the great news!!!

  43. stefan permalink
    August 14, 2021 9:17 PM

    Congratulations Marc – a mighty work – ‘Best in Show’ – wow – awesome creativity. Delighted to see you recognised…and thank you for sharing your hints and skills – I’ve learnt some valuable concepts from you over time.
    Applause applause –
    Stefan

  44. Joanna Guglielmino permalink
    August 31, 2021 10:48 PM

    This piece of work is just remarkable! Congratulations on your award!

  45. September 2, 2021 4:12 PM

    I came to citizensketcher today expecting landscapes of some kind, and I am stunned by this work. You continue to amaze me.

  46. cgrantski permalink
    September 12, 2021 12:16 PM

    Could you possibly say something about the origin of this idea? Thank you.

    • September 12, 2021 12:51 PM

      Well, I have always liked the Coelacanth, which is an armoured fish, probably and ancient species. It was thought to be extinct, but then it was rediscovered – which is a great symbol of natural resilience. The smaller fish (piranha), eating the larger – those could represent any number of forces in the world, whatever you see as the things chipping away at society or the world. Be it greedy humans or even negative thoughts. The things that wear us down and feed off our energy. So that’s the story behind the painting! Thanks for asking :)

  47. October 5, 2021 8:46 PM

    Congratulations!!! Such a powerful piece and I like your statement in the comment above.

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