27th Annual Judged Show
See the winning pieces through August 1st at the SOBA gallery.
Schedule of Events
- Judged Show Exhibit: July 5-August 1st at the SOBA gallery
- Art Pick-Up: 9-11 a.m. August 2 at the SOBA gallery
Judged Show Winners Announced!
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Cash Awards were presented
at an awards ceremony July 7th
Of the 100 local artists who entered The Society of Bluffton Artists’ 27th Annual Judged Show, 18 winners were awarded first, second and third place cash awards in the following categories: oils, acrylics, watercolor, photography, mixed media and other art during an opening reception July 7.
“It was a pleasure to jury this fine collection of art,” said David Rankin, a nationally renowned artist who judged the entries. “It is a vivid testament to the creative efforts of the artists and art community here in Bluffton. Excellence in art is a hard-won achievement that artists struggle to achieve through their individual creative skills, efforts, and inspiration. And this 27th annual compilation is one the local art community can be proud of. I hope you will come walk through this exhibition and enjoy the diversity of styles and achievements.”
The annual Judged Show is SOBA's flagship program that aims to celebrate and to showcase local artists whose works range in a variety of mediums.
Best In Show
Best in Show — Aegan Blue, Dennis Lake
Category 1: Oils
1st Place — Resting Spot, Jackie Nutter
2nd Place —Reverie, Bill Winn
3rd Place — South From Daws Island, James Cawley
Honorable Mention — My Happy Place, Julia Kamenskikh
Category 2: Acrylics
1st Place — Velocity, Audrey Salkind
2nd Place — Morning Coffee at Cafe, Lin Hilts
3rd Place — Globally Clean, Cheryl Arnold
Honorable Mention — Friends Forever, Wyn Foland
Category 3: Watercolor
1st Place — Three Friends, Brenda Fallon
2nd Place — Blooming Again, Barbara Pecce
3rd Place — The Gathering, Patricia Wilund
Honorable Mention — Little Ruby, Loraine Mullaney
Category 4: Photography
1st Place — Anticipation, Suzanne Fiorino
2nd Place — A Bird’s Eye View, Melinda Welker
3rd Place — Tranquility, Steven Higgins
Honorable Mention —Chechessee Storm, Ed Kelly
Honorable Mention —Reflections of Connections, Jo Paduch
Honorable Mention — Cool Contemplation, Savannah Kemper
Category 5: Mixed Media
1st Place — Hanami, Tamara Garvey
2nd Place — Bucket Full of Blues, Joan McKeever
3rd Place — Believe in Spring, Donna Varner
Honorable Mention — Guardian Angel, Pam Davis
Category 6: Other Media
1st Place — Unconsidered Trifles: Dispensary Bottles, Kara Artman
2nd Place — Pride, Mary Burrell
3rd Place — On the Road to Hanna, Pat Diemand
Judged Show Rules and Guidelines
- The show is open to all artists 18 and older.
- Each artist may only enter one (1) piece of art.
- The work must have been completed in the past year and not exhibited in the past twelve (12) months.
- Categories include Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Photography and Other (Pastel, Pencil/Graphite, 3-D, Stained Glass)
- Art must be original.
- Minimum size 12×12”.
- Maximum size 36 x 40”.
- Maximum weight 10 lbs.
- 2D art must be wired (no saw tooth hangers).
- Mats white or off-white. Color liners may be used.
- All work must be for sale and priced to sell.
- SOBA will retain a 35% commission.
- SOBA reserves the right to reject work that does not comply with these rules or that is deemed unsuitable for public display.
Events are held at the SOBA gallery and the Center for Creative Arts next door in historic Old Town Bluffton SC.
Thank you to our sponsors
About the Judge
David Rankin
The judge for the show is David Rankin. His painting style is based on what he calls natural abstraction, realistic subjects using abstract design principles that he finds in nature. His award-winning watercolors are in public and private art collections in the U.S., India, and China, have been featured in more than 150 museum exhibitions, and are included in the North Light’s series, Splash: The Best of Watercolor, and Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing, and in numerous art magazines.
He promotes conservation and appreciation of the natural world through his paintings and has worked with organizations such as the International Crane Foundation, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, the Corporate Conservation Council-Japan and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, Artists for Conservation, and the Society of Animal Artists where he has served on the board since 1990. David is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, Deanna.
