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"John's Grill" Painting is a Finalist in 2024 Publication "The Best of Watercolor: Splash 25"


There is always heavy competition when it comes to The Best of Watercolor: Splash Art Competition. This year's publication held the top three plus another 124 finalists with great variety and an outstanding publication layout design. I was excited to be a finalist for the first time this year. 

The Best of Watercolor: Splash 25 came out in mid-July and my painting John's Grill was chosen to be included. I was pleased because it really was one of my prize winning paintings and put me in the direction of my focus on urban landscape toward mid-century neon signage. 

This painting had a long journey. It started out as an idea from reference images I took while visiting San Francisco in 2005. I think I started it in 2007, moved to Florida the same year and it sat for another seven years. I finally picked up painting again and finished it in 2015 and showed it in six exhibits from 2017 through 2023 and finally sold last year to a lucky collector.

Best of Watercolor: Splash Art Competition has been going for 25 years now presented by Artists Magazine and American Artist magazine. It has been a complete honor to be one of the finalists along with many big names in contemporary watercolor. I can't wait to see what happens in the coming year, I'm holding on to a surprise as a result of being accepted into this publication.

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