Benton Art Festival - Open to artists living in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma
Art for the discerning collector
Congratulations to the Finalists
in the Only Originals Second Annual National Invitational!
Autumn Wheat Harvest by Walt Curlee, 2011 National Invitational Grand Prize Winner
Judge's Statement
Walt 's Autumn Wheat Harvest is the winner of this year's Only Originals National Invitational -- and this painting exhibits all of the features that make this artist's work stand out in a crowd.
The viewer is transported into a whimsical world of rolling form and lively color, filled with an assortment of gentle beings.
Details add interest. In his winning piece, a toad eyes a cricket; squirrels play on a decaying tree; a single building is gray with age; a rake is left in a half-mowed field.
Through the skillful use of color, the eye is guided across the canvas. The purple in the clouds plays against the harvest's complementary gold. Green pastures vibrate against red earth. Blue sky plays against the orange shadows of a grain field, as well as orange pulp in a dead tree.
In some of Walt's works, the rolling landscape, ivy leaves in the foreground, stylized haystacks, and whipping clouds are reminiscent of creations by Thomas Hart Benton. Although the practice has faded away, artists often borrowed stylistic properties from one another, altering them to form something equally wonderful but yet unique. Although the influence of Benton (and perhaps Grant Wood) can be seen, Walt's work could be mistaken for neither. Walt Curlee speaks with his own voice, and his works are truly American originals.
Walt 's Autumn Wheat Harvest is the winner of this year's Only Originals National Invitational -- and this painting exhibits all of the features that make this artist's work stand out in a crowd.
The viewer is transported into a whimsical world of rolling form and lively color, filled with an assortment of gentle beings.
Details add interest. In his winning piece, a toad eyes a cricket; squirrels play on a decaying tree; a single building is gray with age; a rake is left in a half-mowed field.
Through the skillful use of color, the eye is guided across the canvas. The purple in the clouds plays against the harvest's complementary gold. Green pastures vibrate against red earth. Blue sky plays against the orange shadows of a grain field, as well as orange pulp in a dead tree.
In some of Walt's works, the rolling landscape, ivy leaves in the foreground, stylized haystacks, and whipping clouds are reminiscent of creations by Thomas Hart Benton. Although the practice has faded away, artists often borrowed stylistic properties from one another, altering them to form something equally wonderful but yet unique. Although the influence of Benton (and perhaps Grant Wood) can be seen, Walt's work could be mistaken for neither. Walt Curlee speaks with his own voice, and his works are truly American originals.
Winning Entry:
Autumn Wheat Harvest -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,200
First Row:
Appalachian Blackberry Patch -- 30" W x 24" H -- Oil on canvas -- giclées available
Taking Pumpkins to Market -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,000 -- giclées available
Second row:
The Veon's Farm -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- NFS -- giclées available
The Family Garden -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $3,000 -- giclées available
Third Row
Turkeys in the Hills -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,200
Coon Gap Holler -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $5,500
Autumn Wheat Harvest -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,200
First Row:
Appalachian Blackberry Patch -- 30" W x 24" H -- Oil on canvas -- giclées available
Taking Pumpkins to Market -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,000 -- giclées available
Second row:
The Veon's Farm -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- NFS -- giclées available
The Family Garden -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $3,000 -- giclées available
Third Row
Turkeys in the Hills -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $6,200
Coon Gap Holler -- 20" W x 16" H -- Oil on canvas -- $5,500
Finalists
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Only Originals Gallery of Fine Art
Box 592
Benton, AR 72018-0592
onlyoriginals@sbcglobal.net
Box 592
Benton, AR 72018-0592
onlyoriginals@sbcglobal.net
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