Judge's Comments:If someone described this painting to me in words: cute dog with tongue licking nose, poised over a red ball, red flags would go up immediately. I would be tempted to scream,” Danger, danger, saccharine alert level high.” But I can’t manage to be bothered by any of that here. This painting is a delight on many levels. It is cute. There’s no getting around that. But the artist’s execution of the subject, his exuberant brushwork, his brave unapologetic composition has taken it to a level of pure joy. - Joe Anna Arnett
