Photo courtesy of New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
Nell Anderson
2022 New Braunfels Art League Artist of the Year
2022 New Braunfels Art League Artist of the Year
"I have been painting, drawing and creating ceramics for over twenty years. Guided by my artistically talented grandfather, Harold Robins, I discovered my love for art at an early age. I pursued my artistic passion throughout school and ultimately, earning a Bachelors in Studio Art at Texas State University in 2007 with a teaching certificate in art education. The act of creating art helped me to establish my own identity. The process of developing an idea and seeing that idea come to fruition by my own hands gives me. sense of accomplishment unequaled in any other experience. Teaching art has challenged me to learn a wide variety of art mediums. Recently, some of my new passions are working with pastels, colored pencils, glass fusion, pyrography, digital media, and fiber and resin art. I prefer to use my own photographs as references. Art is a deeply personal and emotional experience for me, and I love sharing that with my family, friends, and students."
Judge's Comments:
The pieces are very strong as a group. I like the use of mixed media, which are funky and creative. The drawings are beautifully rendered. I am especially partial to Foxy Eyes and Painted Horse. I am really drawn to the bright colored frames which use different formal strategies and mixed media.
Judge's Comments:
The pieces are very strong as a group. I like the use of mixed media, which are funky and creative. The drawings are beautifully rendered. I am especially partial to Foxy Eyes and Painted Horse. I am really drawn to the bright colored frames which use different formal strategies and mixed media.
Honorable Mention #1
Myra Knapp
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Myra Knapp was born in Texas, grew up in northern California, and then returned to Texas as a young adult. Painting has always played an important role in her life as she was raised in a very active, artistic environment - both mother and mother-in-law were significant watercolorists in Carmel, California and Sedona Arizona, so painting was something that took root early.
Art study at the university level combined with study from American's leading Impressionist painters, Kathryn Stats, Charles, Movalli, Ted Goerschner, Scott Christenson, Randall Sexton, Ron Renchre, and Matt Smith plus a two-year art study program while living and painting in Europe all served to make Knapp's oil paintings reflect the richness and love of the land and sky. |
She prefers painting directly from life in the out-of-doors (plein air), something that has allowed Knapp to paint in various locations throughout the United States and Europe. Always eager to share her painting knowledge, Knapp teaches oil painting at the New Braunfels Art League and is a member of Oil Painters of America and the Outdoor Painters Society.
Judge's Comments:
As a body of work, these pieces are great -with great use of color. In Peaceful Journey, the overall composition with the negative space in the middle ground is really nice. I was drawn to Midday by the good title conveying meaning in the piece. As a curator, I'm not drawn to figurative impressionist landscape painting as a genre, but these were so obviously plein air, which really comes through. The skill is there, but also know that compositionally, she brings a lot of creativity.
Judge's Comments:
As a body of work, these pieces are great -with great use of color. In Peaceful Journey, the overall composition with the negative space in the middle ground is really nice. I was drawn to Midday by the good title conveying meaning in the piece. As a curator, I'm not drawn to figurative impressionist landscape painting as a genre, but these were so obviously plein air, which really comes through. The skill is there, but also know that compositionally, she brings a lot of creativity.
Honorable Mention #2
Rendy Spangenberg
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Born to a creative family from Wimberley, Texas, Rendy is skilled and trained in a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, weaving, stained glass, mosaics and even taxidermy, drawing from the beautiful colors and shapes found in nature. Her current interest is in creating 3-dimensional works that also have a function in the home. Tables, mirrors, windows, murals, and sculptures encrusted in colorful glass and ceramic bits. Art is her passion and joy! |
Judge's Comments:
What I appreciate about this artist is each piece is distinctive, but works as a group, which was the reason I selected this artist. The strongest in this group is In the Garden. The piece feels ironic. I like the playful contrast between the store bought pieces at the base and the mosaic portion of the body where the use of color is magical. Overall, the piece is surprising. It has a sense of humor. Play that Funky Music surprises me also. It is unusual to see mixed use of mosaic stained glass and neon, which could be a recipe for disaster, but isn't.
What I appreciate about this artist is each piece is distinctive, but works as a group, which was the reason I selected this artist. The strongest in this group is In the Garden. The piece feels ironic. I like the playful contrast between the store bought pieces at the base and the mosaic portion of the body where the use of color is magical. Overall, the piece is surprising. It has a sense of humor. Play that Funky Music surprises me also. It is unusual to see mixed use of mosaic stained glass and neon, which could be a recipe for disaster, but isn't.
NBAL Artists of the Year
Each year, in December, all the award winning artists from each of the NBAL member shows are invited to submit artworks to a judge for consideration as Artist of the Year. This designation is one of the Art League's highest honors. Award winners from the first year of the honor's inception are listed below.
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• 2004 Edward Reichert
• 2005 Rita Kirkman • 2006 Bill Brockmeier • 2007 Dianne Reeves • 2008 Ron Watkins • 2009 Jean Crow • 2010 Myra Knapp |
• 2011 Sheila Blakemore
• 2012 Mary K. Hammond • 2013 Patsy Ledbetter Strode • 2014 Pam Pohl • 2015 Sherry Kelley • 2016 Trace Guthrie • 2017 Robbie George |
• 2018 Susan Calafrancesco
• 2019 Mary McIntosh • 2020 Gregory Lambert • 2021 Norman Bean • 2022 Nell Anderson |
