CONGRATULATIONS SECOND QUARTER 2026 WINNERS!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED.
Judging Statement and Award Comments
Pirkko Mäkelä-Haapalinna
There were so many wonderful and high standard pastel paintings that I would have loved to choose more. But competition is competition. Anyway it was a pleasure and an honor to judge this quarter. There were certainly many excellent paintings when I think of skill and techniques, but I wanted to seek a personal touch and voice, paintings that will enrich our pastel community and our way to see and work as artists.
Pirkko Mäkelä-Haapalinna, PSA/MP
Dakota 2nd Quarter 2026 Competition Judge
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ESTABLISHED ARTIST WINNERS
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FIRST PLACE
Natasha Isenhour
This Artist's Heart |
SECOND PLACE
Carolyn Hancock
Norah with her Drawing |
THIRD PLACE
Roberta Condon
Mill City 1 |
FOURTH PLACE
Ronnie Offen
Settling Up
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Honorable Mention
Barbara Berry
Pumpkin Project |
Honorable Mention
Karen Langlais
Harbor Lights |
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Honorable Mention
Fred Fielding
Green Umbrella |
Honorable Mention
Andrew McDermott
Rain on 41st |
Honorable Mention
Lena Rivo
Along the Snowy Street |
Honorable Mention
Loriann Signori
Pry the Cracks Open for the Mystery to Seep In |
Honorable Mention
Mary-Jane Steffens
Dancer on Stool II |
Honorable Mention
Emma Sims
On My Mind |
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ESTABLISHED WINNERS
1st PLACE
This Artist's Heart
This painting is filled with the majesty of landscape and the drama that the weather and light and shadows play to feast our eyes. And this is done by the striking and bold value contrast, it is not the multitude of hues, but bold simple choices. Pure pastel magic!
2nd PLACE
Norah with her Drawing
This figurative, abstracted painting has a strong personal presence. Pastel is used vividly and painted with loose strokes creating a sense of effortlessness, the kind of joy that can be seen also in the child’s painting behind her or from the look of her eyes. A sense of hope for the future can be seen in this painting.
3rd PLACE
Mill City 1
This gloomy industrial cityscape captures the eye through its rhythmical linework and composition. It has realism with a twist of contemporary modern style. The painting carries a message of historical surroundings, lives and decades.
4th PLACE
Settling Up
This moody and colorful interior with a figure at her workplace has a warm sense to it. Colors reveal the atmosphere of light and warmth and the depth of shadows. The person feels real and concentrated, captured in the moment. Light bright violet colors catch the eyes effectively as focal points and perfecting the composition.
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EMERGING ARTIST WINNERS
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FIRST PLACE
Mildred Grossman
Model in Sienna Robe |
SECOND PLACE
Tim Blackwell
The Drive Home |
THIRD PLACE
Linda Groene
Waiting |
FOURTH PLACE
Lyn Jensen
Way Out Southwest |
Honorable Mention
Steve Falen
The Spruce I Live With |
Honorable Mention
Alaina Oleston
African Woman in Red |
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Honorable Mention
Larisa Sellen
The Red Symphony: Joy of Simple Things |
Honorable Mention
Alan Chaney
Early Winter |
Honorable Mention
Nancy Tanner
Superbloom |
Honorable Mention
Jason Williams
Ophelia's Hay Field |
Honorable Mention
Patricia Sorenson
Winter Woods at Twilight |
Honorable Mention
Joel Wish
Pheasant Branch-Fall |
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EMERGING WINNERS
1st PLACE
Model in Sienna Robe
This portrait has a very harmonious and subtle color palette. The whole execution of the painting is gracious and emotional with stunning variation between elegant contour linework and painterly looseness. As the painting is not overworked it has a quality of breathing with effortless value contrast.
2nd PLACE
The Drive Home
The composition of this landscape together with skillful linework of the fields leads the viewers eye very effectively. The painting is atmospheric and magical. It gives the impression that there is more than what meets the eye. Subtle colors give space for the golden clouds perfecting the relationship between the sky and landscape.
3rd PLACE
Waiting
The versatile use of pastels adds interest and graciousness to this painting. It is drawing and painting at the same time. Mark making is almost poetic and it gives emotional substance to this young female figure who is caught by the artist in a momentary moment rather than a pose. The painting has a good value balance.
4th PLACE
Way Out Southwest
This abstracted mountain landscape has a modernist approach, reminding me of the paintings of Per Kirkeby. Layers of colors and textural surface create an interesting color combo. The painting has a loose painterly touch and the unique linework really catches the eye.
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DAKOTA STAFF PICK
Dakota has the unique privilege of supporting artists in their artistic journey every day. The Staff Pick is an Emerging artist who has made strong choices in design, color, and composition, and is taking great strides in their use of the pastel material. This quarter we congratulate Lynne - keep painting!
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WINNER
Lynne Bedbrook
Hear |
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