Meet the 2022 Judges
Christine Towner, Brenda Jiral & Cindy Bender
Christine Towner is an abstract expressionist who has specialized in Encaustic Wax for over 18 years. She studied fine arts at Kendall and Hope College. She was recently published in the 10th year Anniversary Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe , NM, a publication of encaustic artists. She has permanent collections in Holland and the Museum of Encaustic Art (Santa Fe, NM). Christine is also in the gallery “Encaustic Art Institute" in Santa Fe and has exhibited in over 12 different cities in MI along with Chicago, Santa Fe, California and Arizona. She is currently featured in the following galleries: Zeeland Art Gallery, All Art Works Online gallery, and Galleria Gallery in Holland.
Brenda Jiral is a mixed media and watercolor artist with a strong emphasis on experimental processes and materials. She has developed many different unique methods of using water-media combined with a variety of materials. She has been teaching watercolor classes and workshops for six years at several Michigan locations as well as in her private studio.
Brenda studied fine art at Grand Valley State University and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. She has studied under several well-established artists through workshops including Fabio Cembranelli, Joyce Hicks, Linda Kemp and Linda Germain. Each of these educational experiences have enhanced her abilities as a mixed media and watercolor artist.
Her painting titled “Sunlit Tulips” was selected for the top 20 in the Tulip Time poster competition sponsored by the Holland Area Arts Council in 2013. The same painting was selected to be used in a full-page ad for Dick Blick Art Supplies on the back cover of the May/June 2019 issue of Watercolor Artist Magazine. In October 2019, Brenda had an article published as a guest artist, in an online blog at Doodlewash.com. This blog has over 49,000 followers and is read worldwide.
She currently exhibits her diverse works at the Zeeland Artists Working Gallery in Zeeland, Michigan and at All Artworks.com and at Fine Art America, online.
Brenda studied fine art at Grand Valley State University and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. She has studied under several well-established artists through workshops including Fabio Cembranelli, Joyce Hicks, Linda Kemp and Linda Germain. Each of these educational experiences have enhanced her abilities as a mixed media and watercolor artist.
Her painting titled “Sunlit Tulips” was selected for the top 20 in the Tulip Time poster competition sponsored by the Holland Area Arts Council in 2013. The same painting was selected to be used in a full-page ad for Dick Blick Art Supplies on the back cover of the May/June 2019 issue of Watercolor Artist Magazine. In October 2019, Brenda had an article published as a guest artist, in an online blog at Doodlewash.com. This blog has over 49,000 followers and is read worldwide.
She currently exhibits her diverse works at the Zeeland Artists Working Gallery in Zeeland, Michigan and at All Artworks.com and at Fine Art America, online.
Cindy M. Bender began painting after retiring from early elementary teaching. She has been painting in watercolor for 18 years and began also to paint with oils about 5 years ago. Painting with a group of talented artists, as well as taking many art workshops, has helped her to grow in her craft. Art has also taught her to look at the world differently. It has made her more aware of color, shadow, light and texture and she is always excited to stumble upon potential subjects for paintings.
Cindy has been in many juried art shows, the most recent of which have been the 2021 Regional Show at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, the 2021 Muskegon Regional, and the 2021 Michigan Arts Show in Holland. Her paintings can be purchased at the Zeeland Art Gallery in downtown Zeeland, as well as The Red Chair Gallery at her home in Zeeland.
Cindy is married to author, Jack Bender, and has two grown children and four grandchildren. She obtained a bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University and received her master’s from Western Michigan University. She taught lower elementary for 23 years in Hastings, MI and then moved to Zeeland in 2005. Cindy was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus for 27 years and loves to sing! She is currently a member of the St. Francis church choir and cantors there, as well.
Cindy is a strong proponent of the arts and realizes their importance in the life of every person. She routinely co-hosts a display of high school student work and reception as well as featuring guest artists in the Zeeland Art Gallery, 122 E. Main.
Cindy has been in many juried art shows, the most recent of which have been the 2021 Regional Show at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, the 2021 Muskegon Regional, and the 2021 Michigan Arts Show in Holland. Her paintings can be purchased at the Zeeland Art Gallery in downtown Zeeland, as well as The Red Chair Gallery at her home in Zeeland.
Cindy is married to author, Jack Bender, and has two grown children and four grandchildren. She obtained a bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University and received her master’s from Western Michigan University. She taught lower elementary for 23 years in Hastings, MI and then moved to Zeeland in 2005. Cindy was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus for 27 years and loves to sing! She is currently a member of the St. Francis church choir and cantors there, as well.
Cindy is a strong proponent of the arts and realizes their importance in the life of every person. She routinely co-hosts a display of high school student work and reception as well as featuring guest artists in the Zeeland Art Gallery, 122 E. Main.
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