Artist of the Year Awards 2010 - Berwick Artists Society

I am ending 2010 having set out and achieved most of the goals I have set myself for fine art. Along the way there have been some unexpected bonusses, such as sales to a new client in the United Kingdom. What came as a complete and very happy surprise was being named co-winner in the Berwick Artists Society 2010 Awards Section A for Experienced Artists. This award is the highest achievable in the society and I had absolutely no idea I was even in the running having only joined the guild during the past year.

Equal 1st Place 2010 - Group A (Realist) - Berwick Artists Society

Sunday December 12 was the day for the Berwick Art Society Christmas luncheon. I had arranged for my husband and myself to use it as a nice social day to get out of the house and spend some time relaxing and chatting. I especially wanted to introduce Stephen to the new friends I had made having joined the society.

Berwick has to be one of the friendliest groups of people I have met in the past few years. They have made me welcome form the first meeting and I feel very much at home at every meeting.

This can't help but make attending every month not only educational but the really enjoyable evening. I have built up some very friendly rivalries with a few very talented artists in the group and we encourage each other to do better and better from meeting to meeting.

It is this encouragement that has been a driving force behind me presenting a work or two at every meeting I have attended. It is the terrific atmosphere and quality demonstrations that have taught me so much during the year.

We were happily enjoying the chatting at our table during the luncheon when the awards ceremony began. I was looking forward to cheering for some of these fine artists who had done so well during the year.

It came as a complete surprise to hear my name announced as the co-winner with another very fine artist in the group as the winner of the Group A (highest award at the society) for 2010! What was also extremely humbling was the amount of genuine cheering and clapping we both received from our friends and colleagues.

This award was on my list to achieve for 2011, I thought it out of my reach for the first full year of membership at BAS. I have now to rethink my goals for the coming year. It may be a "sole winner" of section A goal that I put in my sights for this new year or I may attempt to try my hand at non-realist art as well and give "Section C Non-Realist Art in Any Medium" a concerted effort.

Janice Mills

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