“Pre-Ballet Practice” Awarded Third Place

Martha Paisley Ruth is honored once again to have a painting receive an award! My painting, Pre-Ballet Practice, watercolor on Yupo, Image 20”H x 28”W, Frame 28”H x 38”W, was awarded Third Place in Austin, Texas’ Waterloo Watercolor Group’s 48th Annual Fall Juried Exhibition. In this painting, the fluidity of the moment is captured in watercolor on YUPO of little dancers holding hands in a circle as the teacher and a mother, who stands in the doorway taking a photo of the scene on her cell phone, are reflected in the mirror.

The juror, Ken Call, stated about my award-winning painting, “I wish I had painted this one! This painting is on a slick surface (Yupo), which is difficult to paint on and control. It has a lot of beautiful colors in it. I love the technique. I like the way it is composed, slightly slanted on the left. The slight tilt helps and gives weight to the group of girls on the left. There are two groups of girls. (Actually it is the image of the girls reflected in a mirror.) The girls on the left are painted with more detail; the group in the back on the right (mirrored-image) is painted more simply and softly. This gives a sense of depth. The painting is also nicely balanced by the background; in particular the black door shape of the upper right helps to balance the foreground.”

Paintings are juried into this membership exhibit by Ken Call, member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Missouri Watercolor Society, Montana Watercolor Society along with being a Master Signature member with the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and Illinois Watercolor Society.

October 19, 2025 Exhibition Chair Rashmi Thakur reads the juror’s statement (below) about Martha’s painting at the Awards Reception. Standing with Martha is juror Ken Call. Martha’s award-winning painting is hung in the show’s center under the North Hills Gallery sign.

Pre-Ballet Practice, watercolor on Yupo, Image 20”H x 28”W, Frame 28”H x 38”W