About Under the Sea
What does the mermaid see as she swims through the ocean? Our Judge, Christine Provard wrote: "First of all, I want to thank you for asking me to judge "Under the Sea". As you know, I love the water and sea and all inspiration from it. I was excited to see how different artists handled their inspiration.
The areas used for each award selection included: Skill/ Technique: Composition/ Value/Contrast: Creativity Originality: and Overall impression and Presentation.
Liz Morton’s Buoy wins First Prize
As I strolled through all the entries, at first glance I was immediately captivated by her painting and choice of colors. I found it to be an emotive piece as I looked at it again when individually judging this piece using the above criteria. Found her painting to be quite unique, felt like I was taking a journey in the sea, mystical. I loved the balance and use of colors and the artist's technique was clean and well executed.
About Liz Morton
Paint… Paint… Paint… Oh how I love to paint! I love color and that irrational moment when I make the first mark.
Just like planting a garden, I create out of optimism for the future. My mixed media work combines acrylic, ink, and mark making in layers that reward viewers with organic imaginings and transparent views rare in paintings. Dr. Maia Nuku, curator of Oceanic Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art (2022) was impressed with my work calling it “genius” presenting “cosmological feel” and noting “the movement of color from transparent to opaque appears as stretched organic matter with veins and pattern”.
My recent Sea Life paintings are bold narratives that capture the bounty of garden and the sea in watercolor and acrylic. Liz has two pieces in the exhibit Buoy and On the Water.
About Christine Provard
Christine is a well-known seascape artist residing in New Bern, North Carolina. Her coastal landscapes and depictions of local wildlife reflect her love for her adopted coastal home of eastern North Carolina. Originally from Ohio, Christine retired from a career in Nursing in 2017 and relocated to New Bern with her husband Rick in 2018. Together they spend time exploring the NC coastline, where she finds inspiration for her art at the “water’s edge”.
Recently juried into the 2020 North Carolina Watercolor Society Show, Christine also has exhibited art in the Twin Rivers Art Association Annual Show, the Studio Tour and the Bank of the Arts Critter Show. She is a member of both North Carolina and Coastal Carolina Plein Air groups. She has studied under watercolorists Barney Cole and Tony Couch, among others. In addition to watercolor, she enjoys exploring creativity in oils and mixed media.
About Carolina Artist Gallery
We are the largest, constant physical art gallery in Carteret County and most likely the first “ art museum” experience very young members of our community have ever seen. Local artists collaborate improving their own art while learning about the art business. 814 Arendell St. Located on the corner of 9th and Arendell in Morehead City, North Carolina two blocks from the Intracoastal Waterway.
Buoy and On the Water are on view in the Under the Sea exhibit at Carolina Artist Gallery closing July 9, 2022