The Copley Society of Art recognizes exceptional pieces from our Small Works exhibitions with Awards of Merit. Co|So’s Art Committee grants Awards of Merit to ten works of art that demonstrate exceptional presentation, technique, composition, and style.
Awards of Merit truly reflect the effort, talent, and skill of our artist members and we are proud to present them to our artists with every new Small Works show. From figurative to marine scenes, abstract to realist pieces, the awarded works represent our eclectic range of artist members.
The awards given out for Small Works: Encounter New England are listed below in alphabetical order.
Pictured: Hilary Baldwin, CA, Morning in Ipswich, oil, 15.5” x 12.5”
Hilary Baldwin is drawn to and captures the beauty and spontaneity of nature in each of her paintings. Her plein air landscape expresses the serenity of coastal lands through the interplay between light and shadows revealed on the sand dunes at Crane Beach.
Pictured: Sue Dragoo, CA, Path of Violet, alcohol ink on Sintra board, 13.25” x 13.25”
Sue Dragoo’s composition is a play on dappled light in a magical forest with violet flowers growing along the foot path. Using the fluidity and vibrancy of alcohol inks, the artist achieves the ethereal light effect of stained glass windows.
Pictured: Jeanette Fournier, In the Clover, watercolor, 11.25” x 14.25”
Jeanette Fournier is a watercolorist and graphite artist whose work is inspired by nature, particularly the northern areas of New Hampshire and Vermont where she lives. Her illustrative watercolor of a snowshoe hare in clover comes from a passion for and love of the natural world and the wild creatures that inhabit it.
Pictured: Oana Lauric, CA, Tell Me More, acrylic on canvas, 13.5” x 13.5”, SOLD
Combining aspects of realism and abstraction, Oana Lauric’s unique paintings exhibit depth and chromatic intensity. Her intent is to signal the power of our surroundings and explore how the environment impacts one’s persona, using both her architectural background and personal experiences to inform her art.
Pictured: Meg McLean, Perched, oil on gessoboard, 13.5” x 13.5”
Meg McLean is highly regarded for her luminous and distinctive landscapes, frequently taking inspiration from the countryside, buildings, and skies of New England. The delicate brushwork and highlights throughout Perched, such as in the sand dunes and fluffy clouds, add depth and a sense of familiarity to her composition of a Cape Cod bluff.
Pictured: Laurinda O’Connor, CA, Spring’s Approach, soft pastel, 12” x 12”
Laurinda O’Connor’s approach to landscape painting includes a reimagination of both dimension and composition. She uses a spontaneous layered pastel technique with expressive mark making, creating plenty of paths for the viewer’s eye to explore this painted environment.
Pictured: Janine Robertson, CA, Expanse, oil on aluminum, 11” x 13”
Janine Robertson draws extensive inspiration from the marshes, fields, and shorelines of the New England landscape. The artist frequently paints on aluminum and copper which allows her oils to stay on the surface, glittering and rich with pigment.
Pictured: Ana Smyth, Good Night Monhegan, oil on canvas, 13” x 15”
Ana Smyth combines energetic and abstract brush strokes to create the dynamic and colorful atmosphere that she wants to share with her viewers. She hopes to communicate and inspire others to see the beauty, light, and most importantly, color, within the delightful subjects she paints.
Pictured: Kristin Stashenko, Beach Stroll, acrylic, 10” x 20”
Kristin Stashenko is well known for her graphic works of architectural interiors and exterior landscapes in gouache and acrylic. Her artistic explorations take shape in new interpretations of color, point of view, or focal point – all of which communicate abstract themes and ideas in exciting ways.
Pictured: Jed Sutter, Next Stop Capen, acrylic, 8.75” x 8.75”, SOLD
Based in Boston and the Maine coast, self-taught artist Jed Sutter’s paintings often take after his surroundings and the local landscape. His subjects include urban architecture, an aging MBTA trolley that rumbles behind his home, and the shores and harbors of his youth.
You can see these award winners and many other fantastic works in Small Works: Encounter New England, on view virtually and in the Co|So Lower Gallery through Saturday, July 2nd.