Trausch Fine Arts

Awards & Honors


Thomas
Photo by Jeff Harold

Selected honors and awards, 2013-present:

  • Barrington Pein Air Competition, Artists Choice Award, 2024
  • Art Spectacular in Springfield, Illinois, 2nd Place in Fine Art, 2023
  • Barrington Fine Art Show, Best of Category (painting, 2-D), 2023
  • Watercolor 23 exhibit at the Norris Center in Saint Charles, Illinois, "Life Goes On" received one of the top Awards Of Excellence.

    Judges comments - "And so it does. Art gives expression to what we think, feel and imagine as human beings. A painting of subtle handling of the watercolor medium with beautiful brushwork and understated color which creates the mood. The theme is solemn but not forlorn. My initial impression was of a graveyard, a bare tree visually moving back to the suggestion of a pale colored American flag. A respectful scene. The longer I looked the more I saw. Although a somber remembrance of those who are gone, I also realized the grass was turning green and that the tree would soon be budding. This is a painting that says more by saying less. A conversation with myself about life, hope and renewal ensued."
  • 6th Annual Paint The Town Event, Barrington, Ill., Honorable Mention, 2022, SOLD at event

    14"x11" Plein Air Watercolor
  • Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts, Judge's Award 2-D Merit, 2022
  • Barrington Art Fest, Best of Category (painting, 2-D), 2022
  • Glen Ellyn , Ill. Festival of the Arts, Best of Show, 2021
  • Deerpath Art League Art Fair on the Square, Lake Forest, Ill. Award of Excellence Painting Watercolor, 2021
  • Art Spectacular, Springfield, Ill. 2nd Place Fine Art, 2021
  • “Art On The Prairie“ in Warrenville, Ill, received the “Best of Mixed Media Award 2020“
  • Curator’s Choice award at Black Point Plein Air Event, 2020
  • “Art Spectacular, First Place Fine Art” at Springfield, Illinois, 2020
  • Watercolor figure painting received an Honorable Mention Award at the “Watercolor 2020” show at the Norris Gallery in St. Charles, Illinois in April, 2020
  • Prairie Plein Air Competition in Schaumburg, 2nd Place Award, 2020
  • Barrington Plein Air Competition, Peoples' Choice award and 2nd place, 2019
  • Best of Category-Painting at the Lincolnshire Art Show, 2019
  • Prairie Plein Air Competition (Schaumburg, IL), Honorable Mention cash & certificate award, 2019
  • Award of Excellence at the Norris Gallery Annual Watercolor show in St. Charles, Illinois, 2019
  • "Best of Category - Painting" at the Lincolnshire, Illinois Art Show, 2017
  • Milwaukee 3rd Ward Plein Air Painting Competition, 3rd place cash award & ribbon, 2017
  • Lincolnshire, IL show 2016, "Best of Category"
  • Listed in Northwest Who's Who in American Art, 2016
  • Port Washington/Cedarburg, WI, Plein Air 2015, 3rd place award, cash and purchase

  • Prairie Plein Air Competition (Schaumburg, IL), 3rd place, 2015
  • "Celebration of Wild Flowers and Art, Plein Air Paint Out", 1st place, 2015
  • "Art in Nature", en Plein Air Painting, 2nd place cash award, ribbon and merchandise, South Barrington, IL, 2014
  • Cedarburg, Wisconsin en Plein Air Event, Honorable mention, ribbon and cash award, 2014

  • Chicago Botanic Gardens watercolor workshop instructor, 2013

 

Gale:

  • 2nd place ribbon and prize in the Professional Artists Exhibition, 2012 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois
  • Honorable Mention, Starline 4th Friday show, October, 2012, Harvard, Illinois