Artwork Awards – 2021
Vicki Vella judged the artworks before they were shown at the Annual Exhibition of Microscopy at Potters Bar on Sunday 3rd October 2021, and had the difficult job of deciding which of the excellent submissions from members of the Quekett and from non-members were of a sufficiently high standard to deserve a certificate.
Vicki’s general comments
Judging this art competition for a second year has been just as enjoyable as the first and, if I could, I would award everyone a prize! The quality and variety of the submissions has been good and the background information really useful and interesting. As there has been a range of subjects, I decided to award 2 prizes in each of two broad categories:
- Artistic interpretative – Some imaginative use of materials and colour. I would love to see these pieces at the exhibition to be held later this month. Awards go to Rachel Sammons and Lisa Ashby.
- Artistic illustrative – Beautifully observed pieces. All quite different but equally well crafted. Awards go to Dawn Painter and Robert Ratford.
It was genuinely very difficult to chose the winners. Well done all.
Steve Gill announced the entries that deserved certificates during the gossip meeting on Friday 8th October.
Click the arrows to move through the slides. Click the symbol at bottom right for a larger version.
Click any of the images to see a larger version. (Click outside the image or click 
at top right to return to this page.)
Lisa Ashby
Obelia hydroids – Art Award
Inspired by a slide in a recent Postal Microscopical Society box of a marine specimen, Obelia hydroids mounted by E. F. Lee 31.8.90. Layered tissue paper cut-outs over a light box.
Vicki Vella’s comments: Beautiful. The layering of the tissue paper brings this piece to life. I imagine it is even more vibrant in the flesh! There is a naivety to the piece that really appeals to me and the use of just one colour works so well.
Obelia hydroids
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Les Franchi
Flower petal “skeleton” art
A chance discovery in leaf litter of the intact preserved vascular supporting framework of a floret of Hydrangea macrophylla. Original subject using Nikon mirrorless camera, coupled to a macro lens, on a black background, and subsequently processed using image software for artistic value. Original subject width 26 mm.
Vicki Vella’s comments: Beautifully delicate. I would have liked to see the original photograph to contrast it with the artistic version. The contrast of the black and green adds to the delicacy of the piece as do the stronger black lines.
Flower petal “skeleton”
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Dawn Painter
Fairyfly – Eustochus atripennis – Art Award
Eustochus atripennis (Curtis) found on the Isle of Mull. One of the “larger” Mymaridae at just over 1 mm. It is strongly sclerotised, living life on the forest floor in amongst leaf litter. Host unknown. A very rarely found fairyfly, I was therefore delighted to have found two on a trip to Mull using yellow pan traps and a Malaise trap. I am about to present a paper on its occurrence in Britain having found these specimens and one other species Eustochus confusus (Huber and Baquero) which is also new to Britain, found in Snowdonia.
Vicki Vella’s comments: Delicately done. Lovely use of shading and mark making in general. The number of different types of marks and the strength and quality of them is impressive.
Fairyfly – Eustochus atripennis
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Robert Ratford
Vicki Vella’s comments: Three lovely pieces of work. Inspired use of hard and soft, thick and thin lines and mark making in general. The three pieces are quite different in feel and I appreciate the annotations. Was the faint transfer of one piece into the other intentional? Either way, it adds to the pieces in my opinion!
Illustrations of Hordeum vulgare, barley – Art Award
Barley drawings
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Illustrations of Sorghum bicolor, sorghum – Art Award
Sorghum drawings
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Illustrations of Triticum aestivum, wheat – Art Award
Wheat drawings
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Microscope collage
A collage built from a collection of children’s microscopy sets
Vicki Vella’s comments: A lovely piece of work. The mix of actual microscopes, their boxes and instructions, works really well. The placement of each piece has been thought out carefully and the overall look is very effective. The placement of one microscope standing up and anchoring the piece is inspired!
Microscope collage
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Rachel Sammons
Dental plaque – Art Award
Dental plaque is a good example of a complex biofilm. Primary bacterial colonisers, which include many species of Gram-positive Streptococci, start the colonisation process by anchoring to proteins and other macromolecules on the tooth surface. They provide receptors for other bacteria to adhere to them and a sequence of specific and non-specific attachment events occurs as the plaque develops in complexity, each bacterial species finding its own niche, depending on the oxygen concentration, pH, nutritious requirements etc. Eventually the plaque disperses, releasing its tenants into the surrounding saliva. I have attempted to represent the different bacterial species using small pompoms and pipe-cleaners for cocci and rods, with sheeps’ wool representing the extra-cellular matrix. This idea can be used to teach children about biofilms and the importance of cleaning your teeth!
Vicki Vella’s comments: A vibrant piece of work. The mix of colours, shapes and textures work really well. I can see school children enjoying this piece and making their own! Beautiful and imaginative.
Dental plaque
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Click the arrows to move through the slides. Click the symbol at bottom right for a larger version.
Gwyneth Thurgood
Vicki Vella’s comments: Three lovely pieces of work. Inspired use of colour and media. The three pieces are very different not only in the medium used but in their feel and look. I particularly like “The Sandstone Cliff” which has a Van Gogh feel to it.
The Sandstone Cliff
Pastel 1964
The Sandstone Cliff
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Urea Inlet
Watercolour 2020
Urea Inlet
(Click the image to see a larger version)
The Downs
Designers Gouache 2021
The Downs
(Click the image to see a larger version)
Click any of the images to see a larger version. (Click outside the image or click at top right to return to this page.)