86 Artists Magazine January/February 2020
Abstract//Experimental
2ND PLACE
Forrest Hooper
Austin, Texas
Eldorado Revisited
acrylic and collage, 60x81
“At 87, Eldorado Revisited is my last hurrah.
There are two works underneath: one from
2001 and the other from 2010. They were
ill-conceived, but I lived with them until
I revisualized them. For Eldorado Revisited,
I kept a daily painting diary—the only work
for which I’ve done so. This piece doesn’t
view successfully in the fl at frame of
a photo. Its large scope can’t be captured
on fi lm nor can its magical, mirage aspect.
The inner dramatic scenic-scope-sounds
can, however, be accessed by playing
Aram Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto—
my constant partner during this work’s
creation. The two melded as one—the
aural and the visual synthesized. I’m proud
of it as my fi nal masterwork. I depart the
art world, if not life, satisfi ed I was blessed
to accomplish this one-time-only artwork.”3RD PLACE
Patricia Dews
Hobe Sound, Florida
patdews.comBarren Plain 4
mixed media on paper, 21x29
“I started my painting career as
a representational artist, but after
taking a one-day workshop with the late
Nicholas A. Reale, I knew that abstraction
was what I was supposed to be doing.
I paint the abstract essence of nature—
the shapes and textures of fl owers, rocks,
water, crumpled walls and rusty objects.
I’ve collected rocks since childhood,
and they’re a recurring theme in my
work. When I paint rocks, I use pouring,
plastic wrap, sponges, razors, sanders,
alcohol and riggers for line work. Barren
Plain 4 depicts a designed composition.
It’s a fi gment of my imagined world.”