For Challenges before January 2025

2026 – February Challenge Altered PerceptionsJuror: Jenny Nordstrom

Wow, what a diverse and interesting set of artwork was presented for this unique challenge! I loved all of your interpretations of the subject, and had a difficult time deciding!

In the end, I picked Jeremiah Foxwell’s gorgeous painting. I thought the colors were spectacular and the composition fascinating — and more importantly, the “lens” that he presented was the double vision brought on by his Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (which I had to google LOL). I thought it was a perfect “altered perception!”

I’m not going to pick a second place because there were so many strong ones — but I’d like to give a shout out to Kenneth Bachman, Luz deJesus, Nan Raphael, and Carolyn Rondthaler for also presenting really strong work!

2026 – January Challenge WinterscapeJuror: Martin Rundle

Hi all, this is Martin, the judge for CHAL’s January 2026 challenge: Winterscapes.

I’d like to thank everyone who submitted pieces for consideration. It was wonderful to see all the different interpretations of the theme.

When viewing the images, I was drawn to two depictions of the U.S. Capitol building:

• Jenny Nordstrom’s “DC Capitol” and
• Nan Raphael’s “Frozen Capitol”

I enjoyed the juxtaposition of these two images of a building so familiar to many of us.

Jenny’s depiction is a beautifully constructed image of the Capitol in winter, with the snow encrusted trees and the Capitol Dome shining in the background.

Nan’s frozen depiction has great tension with the blue crackling surface. The maintenance ladder along the dome is almost a fissure in the facade.

Taken together we have an aspirational image of an instantly recognizable symbol of America along with an image that conveys the often tense and messy reality of America. I think as a duo they work very well together.
Unfortunately, I have to pick one image for January.

As someone who grew up in Central New York, a winterscape for me is about the beauty of a winter’s day. And I think Jenny’s piece is a wonderful capture of a winterscape in our nation’s capital. Congratulations to Jenny and a special thank you to Nan for her great piece.

2025 – December Challenge Connections Juror: Jim Huttinger

Happy New Year and seasons greetings. Wishing for a Art-full 2026
December’s challenge Connections Winners are:
First Choice “Oak and Beech” black and white photography by Martin.

A photograph of consequence can be made from just about anything. Subject matter in itself is not critical it’s the understanding what the photographer see.

Second Choice “After Naptime” – Medium: pastel, charcoal, conte on toned paper – Erin Thompson

2025 – November Challenge ArchitectureJuror: Nanct Ennis

My winner for those monthly challenge is
Jim Huttinger’s Duke Ellington School of Arts with a close 2nd of Surya Pati’s Urban Dawn.
I loved the juxtaposition of geometric shapes and organic shapes.

2025 – October Challenge Scary Jouror Carolyn Rondthaler

I won the September monthly challenge, so I needed to choose the winner for the October “Spooky” challenge. It is so hard to narrow it to just one, but I choose the entry from Nancy Ennis of a ghostly witch which she says is how her students look when she asks them to put away their phones. I’m not going to identify any honorable mentions—there was lots of scary stuff! Nancy will choose the winner for the next monthly challenge.–“Architecture.”

2025 – September Challenge Tell a Story – Juror: Karin Edgett

Thank everyone for their entries!
I chose Carolyn Rondthaler’s Blue Violin as First Place.

It’s a good portrait and pleasant use of blue and yellow composition. This image tells of the uniqueness of community and humanity and color.

Her description… you can see it and the other entries up on the CHAL IG page. https://www.instagram.com/caphillartleague/

This is a painting of a man who used to play his blue violin at Eastern Market. I was interested in him because my granddaughter was playing a blue violin. He now sometimes plays in front of Sephora on Pennsylvania Ave SE and I am friends with him.

I chose a second place as well by Jeramia, the powerful image about his friend who had taken his life.

His description; The story behind the painting is in an audio recording on my online portfolio. This art was made for the Behind the Uniform Art Show last spring in honor of my Navy EOD teammate that was lost to suicide.

October’s challenge is SPOOKY!

2025 – August Challenge Skies – Juror: Luz de Jesus

I am in awe of everyone’s artistic interpretations of this month’s challenge, and I loved how difficult you all made my decision with your beautiful art. Ultimately, I selected the piece “Skyward from Beneath the Caribbean” by Karin Edgett. This image showed me a unique way of looking at the sky in a way I never expected. I loved how the artist took advantage of a serendipitous moment to snap her photo, and how she showcased the sky through the filter of the ocean.
Thanks again to everyone who participated!
Luz De Jesus

2025 – July Challenge Expression – Juror: Jenny Nordstrom

Here are my winners for the July challenge of “Expression.”
First place – Bowed But We Will Rise by Luz De Jesus. Incredibly striking photograph with amazing composition. Great work!
Second place – 4th of July by Kasse Andrews. I just love the edgy details of this sculptural piece. And very appropriate for these scary days in DC.
Third place — Rome by Karen Zens. Would love to see this in person to check out the details! But I love the dimensionality and the colors, as well as the creative use of mixed media.
Well done, all! Thanks for your patience!

2025 – June Challenge Still Life – Juror: Erin Thompson

I thought I’d be late in judging the June competition, but I found myself with a pocket of solo quiet time this morning in our hotel room, so here are my choices.
I enjoyed taking time to appreciate everyone’s entries, so thanks to all! I found myself responding most strongly to works where I could feel the emotional effects of viewing life on pause.
First place – Jenny Nordstrom’s “Festive Door with Bike & Bench – Oaxaca, Mexico” – I really liked the contrast between the energy of so much vivid color and the calming effect of the orderly composition, which helped create that feeling of paused life.
Second place – Karen Cohen’s work boots on the windowsill. The sunlight and shadow made me feel caught in this moment with the boots, and I found myself wanting to paint the scene.
Third place – Eileen Leahy‘s root vegetables pastel. I loved the colors and textures she achieved and the way they made me feel like I was peering into the market bin with her. I was wishing I could see this piece in person to appreciate her pastel technique.
Thanks again to all!

2025 – May Challenge Figure – Juror:Surya Patil

May’s challenge – Figure
I’m truly impressed by the outstanding and enthusiastic submissions from everyone for the May Challenge: Figure. As the juror for this month, I’ve been genuinely awestruck by the creativity and depth expressed across both photographs and paintings. The diversity of interpretations made the selection process incredibly difficult—each submission brought something unique and powerful to the theme.
While every entry holds its own merit and there is no “first” or “last,” I’ve been asked to make personal selections as part of my role as juror. The following choices reflect works that particularly resonated with me, and I share them with great respect for all participants and their artistic contributions.

• Ken Bachman
• Carolyn Rondthaler
• Mimi Guernica

In the photography category my choice is by Nan Raphael

• Reaching for the Sky

I’m truly impressed by the sketches—especially want to give a special mention to “DC Metro Commute,” a captivating collection of ink drawings created discreetly on the Metro (train and bus) by Erin Thompson.

2025 – April Challenge Planet Earth – Juror:Ragnar Thoresen

Thank you to all that submitted their art to the monthly challenge. My choices are: Burning Tree by Surya Patil, Blue Planet by Luz De Jesus, and Goes on Forever by Ken Bachman.
Surya Patil will be the juror for May’s challenge – “Figure”.

• Burning Tree by Surya Patil A solitary tree stands ablaze, its branches twisting upward like desperate fingers clawing at the sky. Flames engulf the canopy, glowing with searing oranges and yellows that contrast against a backdrop of bluish-gray clouds. Despite the destruction, the tree remains upright, symbolizing resilience within chaos.
• Blue Planet by Luz De Jesus The photo captures a tranquil island shrouded in shades of deep moody blue. A tall solitary mountain rises dramatically from the island’s center. The scene, sea, sky and land is awash in layered hues of blue. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative as if the island exists outside of time.
• Goes on Forever by Ken Bachman A painting where tops stretch endlessly into the horizon, each peak layered behind the other like waves. As your gaze moves deeper into the painting, the mountains gradually soften. The details become misty, enveloped in a bluish and pink haze that gives a sense of distance. The overall composition evokes both grandeur and stillness, a world untouched, ancient, and infinite.

2025 – March Challenge Spring Breaks – Juror:Jane Mann

Thanks to everyone who entered the Spring challenge. There were many images with the bright colors or human-interest subjects that go with the typically soft but joyful season. However, my task was to select a work for March 2025, which was anything but soft and joyful.
My first choice selection, Ragnar Thoresen’s Stand Strong, reflects that shift. It juxtaposes the solid, upright Washington’s monument with the listing tree in danger of collapse. The ground around the monument slips away, the flags are at half-staff, the clouds are darkening, and the winds are nearing gale force. The monument, which could represent the founding principles of our country, is the strong pillar from which we the people can get support.
Honorable mentions:

• • Sakura-fubuki by Luz de Jesus depicts an iconic moment during every spring in the DC area – the cherry blossom snowstorm. The branches and blossoms are delicately rendered and the hands are reaching upward to celebrate and capture this piece of springtime before it disappears.
  • Karen Cohen’s Mardi Gras Madness shows the exuberance and fun typical of the spring festival of Mardi Gras. Crowds in costume, onlookers enjoying the parade and maybe the waiter taking a photo for the group make a great street photograph.
  • In Carolyn Rondthaler’s Cherry Blossoms the closeup of the blossoms against the blurry masses of the trees in the background perfectly captures what the viewing experience can be if a person takes the time to really “see” the individual details of the flowers.

“Stand Strong” and continue allowing yourselves creative joy and artistic freedom.

2025 – February Challenge Nature – Juror:Marilyn Saks-Mcmillion

1) Jane Mann’s captivating photo of the Northern Lights. What made this stand out to me were the composition, subject, simplicity, and serendipity. The purple shades of the aurora borealis framed by dark trees in the foreground perfectly framing the constellation of the Big Dipper made this my first choice.
2) Jenny Nordstrom’s surrealistic capture of the light in this slot canyon was arresting. Fiery colors of intense yellows, oranges and reds are tightly framed against the black sides of the slot canyon are dramatic. Again the composition, colors and simplicity of the photo highlights Nature in its harsh beauty and ancient timeliness – taking millions of years to form these amazing geological forms.
3) Third place is for Carolyn Rondthaler’s multimedia watercolor and ink of Storms Brewing in the Pacific. Based on televised storm tracking images, she uses pastel colors overlaid on black ink outlines of landmasses, in varying shades of golds, yellows, greens, blues, reds, pinks, purples in swirling patterns. Undulating waves of blues and greens at bottom suggest ocean currents, rising to rounded swirls of yellow encircling reds, pinks, purples suggesting offshore tracks of storms or cyclones. I love the use of art + science in this piece.
4) Elin Whitney-Smith’s watercolor of “The tree that grows in Brooklyn” interprets the theme of how nature can be indomitable over human intervention. The juxtaposition of the Heaven Tree weed growing in impossibly tight quarters between a wall and surrounding buildings depicts how the destructive persistence of nature over human intervention may end up being earth’s savior over human-made climate change. Elin wrote: “it may be the plant that saves our planet – it may survive when all the rest are gone and re-oxinigate our world. Here it grows between the wall and the drain pipe and sidewalk. It probably has already broken into the drain, softened the wall and sent shoots to further destroy what people have made. Nature at it’s indomitable best.”
5) Fifth place goes to Rod Whyte’s iPad painting: “Belle View Autumn”. I love the vibrant colors in unexpected places and how carefully he uses lines to fill in the subjects. The lines on leaves suggest the texture of wool strands that appear nowhere else in the painting. The trunk is lined with red, blue, and green lines. Bright blue splashes on the bottom of the fence slats catch your eye. The pale aqua of the sky finds its way into the spaces between the fallen leaves, and the ground is lined with purple. I enjoyed the use of technology and his eye for color makes the ipad painting playful.

Sincere thanks to everyone who submitted their art for this month’s challenge.

2025 – January Challenge Where We Live – Juror: Hernan Munro

It is always difficult to judge when there is so much good work presented and January challenge was not different. I am choosing three pieces for Originality, photographic quality and use of color.

The winner is Marilyn Saks-Mcmillion for the originality of the idea behind the shot, followed by and in not particular order
Carolyn Rondthaler for her cardinal photo
Rod Whyte for his great use of colors in “View from my back window”
Jim Huttinger for the beauty of the abandoned
Elin Whitney-Smith for her beautiful Ice Breakup Along the Potomac