​​My rendition of the "mad god," Dionysus, in the form of a self-portrait feasting on the blood of pomegranates was selected from a pair of submissions. I call it "Insipientiam somber," or "Somber Madness." It is a special honor to be among the elite of the medium that compete for the highest award, the Skyledge, this year received by Dean Mitchell for his "Buffalo Soldier." There are 22 total designations that are presented at the private reception on June 10th. They host on

On a beautiful day a week ago, I drove out into the middle of the state to the Next Picture Show Gallery in Dixon for the Illinois Watercolor Society's annual National Show. Just the previous Wednesday, I hurried to drop off my submission, "Tago vos," at the gallery past its due date. The facilitator was very willing to give it a space. It was their 32nd national show, with one Taiwanese applicant (not accepted) who gives prudence to the group's influence gaining strength in