It’s a beautiful view from here.



Once again, I was faced with the dilemma of viewing many more splendid works of art than would fit into one book. We do our best to judge the paintings “blind,” i.e. not looking at the names of the artists until later, and I was pleased this time around to end up with quite a few names I was unfamiliar with: names that had never appeared in Splash, or any of my books, before. This should indeed give #11 a fresh look in line with our theme of “New Directions.” The only thing that would make my job even better and more beautiful would be to work on Splash from a mountain balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. (Any offers?)



My personal congratulations to this edition’s winners!



Sincerely,



Rachel Wolf



P.S. I’ll be checking in periodically through the News section of the Splash website. Come back and visit often!

No discussion of the beautiful Splash series would be complete without mention of Splash‘s sister series (or is it brother?), Strokes of Genius.



With over 100 featured artists, Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Drawing Light and Shadow (the follow-up to the successful Strokes of Genius, 2007) is a stunning collection of art. Every page holds a new surprise and delight. From gorgeous landscapes to philosophical visions of human emotion, this book will wow your everyday understanding of light and shadow.



It’s due out in Fall 2009 and in the process of being designed now. I can’t wait to see what it looks like after he’s done his magic….



Thanks, Sarah!


Jen
Editor of Strokes of Genius II

Dear Splash contestants,

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who submitted artwork for Splash 11: New Directions. In all, 111 artists have been selected to have their work appear in the latest volume of the Best of Watercolor series. Sometime next week, winners will receive a mailed packet of detailed instructions about what to do next, including notification of which titles were chosen. Again, thanks to each of you for sharing your beautiful work with North Light Books. Without further adieu:

Anne Abjott
Neil Adamson
Dennis Albetski
Frances Ashley
Jewel Baldwin
Karen Benco
Robin Berry
Susan Biros-Dawes
Alexander Bostic
Carol Brody
J. Henderer Burns
Anna Carlton
Kay Carnie
Cheryl Chalmers
Rachel Collins
Kathleen Conover
Jaimie Cordero
Marilynn Derwenskus
Missie Dickens
Henry Dixon
Linda Dobbs
Linda Dupuis-Rosen
Janet Mach Dutton
Linda Erfle
Paula Fiebich
Pat Fiorello
Mariska Folks
Nancy Fortunato
Ellen Fountain
Barbara Fox
Tom Francesconi
Kristine Fretheim
Kathy Gagnon
Kathie George
Marjorie Glick
Nancy Grigsby
Juanita Hagberg
Susan Harper
Scott Hartley
Ted Head
Tom Heflin
Suzanne Hetzel
Robert Highsmith
Terri Hill
Lynn Hosegood
Anne Hudec
Peggie Hunnicutt
Bill James
John James
Russell Jewell
Bev Jozwiak
Elisa Khachian
Ong KimSeng
Elizabeth Kincaid
Jaya King
Andrew Kish
Nellie Kress
Valerie Larsen
David Lee
Roland Lee
Carol Lemieux
Judy LewLoose
Fealing Lin
Tom Linden
Kathleen Maling
Renate Martin
Antonio Masi
Laurin McCracken
Mark E. Mehaffey
Robert Lee Mejer
Judy Metcalfe
David Milton
Judy Morris
Vicki Nelson
Robert J. O’Brien
Frances B. O’Callaghan
Sandy O’Connor
Edmond Oliveros
Catherine O’Neill
Heidi Parrinello
Pam Patton
Jacky Lang Pearson
Sandrine Pelissier
Jim Petty
Robin Purcell
Robert Reynolds
Irena Roman
Charles Sharpe
Charles Sluga
Paul St. Denis
Pam Stanley
David L. Stickel
Susan M. Stuller
Brenda Swenson
Keiko Tanabe
Vivian Thierfelder
James Toogood
Dani Tupper
Dannica Walker
Soon Y. Warren
Pat Weaver
Gayle Weisfield
Steve Wilda
Leslie Wilson
Donna Jill Witty
Monique Wolfe
Cheryl Wooten
Christopher Wynn
Al Zerries
Tianya Zhou
Diane Ziemski
Floy Zittin