Christopher Mooney - First Place

Mr. Mooney's Burger Must Be Ready.
Oil
 
Award Winner: First Place
Juror notes: The artist opened my eyes to a feeling I wasn’t expecting. I immediately felt impatience and boredom, evoked by the mundane ketchup bottle, the backside of common and ordinary patrons, and the mismatched furnishings. I was instantly transported to a very believable diner on the Oregon coast with the clever depiction of the boat art on the right wall. This was a complex painting with the use of perspective, multiple figures, lighting and textures, and it beautifully captures the feeling of being hungry and waiting in a bar with strangers. Bravo, for capturing both an emotion and a perspective that is fresh and honest.