For a video of the judge’s comments about the award-winners, click here.  

1st Place/Best in Show Beck Hartman “A Memory”

2nd Place Ed Maurer – “Color My World”

3rd Place Donna Davy “Ginger”

 

Honorable Mentions

1) Steve Hanson- “Oppie”

2) Joe Gainer- “A Day at the Fair”

3) Monica Wilson- “Merlot Down”

4) Ibi Hinrichs- “Phosphorescence”     

5) Judy Davis – “A Memoir of Violet Roman”

People’s Choice Award:  

Donna Davy 1st “Ginger” and  3rd “Tiberius”

2nd in People’s Choice   Beck Hartman “A Portrait of my Dad”

A nice turnout for the opening reception and awards ceremony.

 

The 2025 Judge

Winchester VA artist Don Black grew up in Roanoke and came to art while pursuing a long career in music. He is now a retired Professor Emeritus of Music at Shenandoah University, where he taught clarinet and music theory, conducted symphony orchestra and opera productions and played jazz on the side.

He began painting in 1984, first with oils. Later he changed media and studied with several nationally prominent watercolor artists. In 1995 he earned signature membership in the prestigious Baltimore Watercolor Society. His early work was mostly representational. Now he paints in acrylics in a distinctive abstract style.  

The George Washington Hotel purchased 3 of his painting during a major renovation. The Shenandoah Arts Council (now ShenArts) honored him with a retrospective of 75 paintings from a quarter-century of work. In February 2019 he was an honoree in the first “Hearts for the Arts” gala held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. He was recognized for making a significant 40-year impact on the arts in the Shenandoah Valley. Over 25 galleries have represented him or hosted solo shows of his work. His paintings appear in collections in Canada, Europe, Australia and throughout the United States. 

Visit his website at:    https://www.donblackartist.com/