Locals Kaitlyn Evans and G.W. Thompson win art award

The Delaware Division of the Arts presented a $3,000 Emerging Professional Award to two Lewes residents Jan 14. Kaitlyn Evans and G.W. Thompson were among 20 Delaware artists to be recognized. Both were awarded for their efforts in the visual arts - crafts and painting, respectively. 

Pennsylvania native Kaitlyn Evans has resided in Lewes for three years. Evans applied to the Delaware Division of the Arts by submitting some of her work, including pendants, lockets and brooches. Typically using metals, coppers, and stones, Evans often enamels her creations upon completion. Hesitant at first, Evans is beginning to take more risks to make her work known. 

“I purposely obscure the glossy and luminescent interiors of my jewelry with small apertures pierced in metal or translucent plastic,” Evans said. “This is a reflection of my personality for I do not want to reveal too much of myself. I retain the most vulnerable parts behind a calm facade... I recognize the importance of pushing aside fear and taking risks in developing new work that branches beyond the soft, quiet and hidden.” 

In an attempt to branch out from what she is comfortable with, Evans intends to use the $3,000 grant to create larger scale objects - things that can’t necessarily be worn, but instead, to hold, examine and appreciate. “I am working toward creating large scale jewelry where vulnerability is openly displayed across the chest as neckpieces, or overflowing in the hand as oversized compacts,” Evans said. 

Evans currently works at the Heidi Lowe Gallery and Lovely Rings by Hand in Rehoboth Beach where she has a few of her prized pieces on display. Some of her work is also on display in different traveling shows. 

As for G.W. Thompson, he intends to use his $3,000 for more supplies. Always working in his home workshop and an avid environmentalist, Thompson makes a habit of not disposing of paint unnecessarily. Coincidently, Thompson has a series that he is working on that is directly related to the environment. The majority of his work deals with landscape pieces that are abstract. “A lot of big things are happening in the environment,” Thompson said, “and we need to deal with it.” One of his forms of contributing is picking up trash along bicycle paths and portraying the differences through his paintings. 

Thompson has a few different projects that he is working on as well. He wants to do a collage series where he incorporates trash in the beautiful area, but that is one for the future. One of his current projects is painting a new, smaller piece every day for an entire year. As a member of the Rehoboth Art League, Thompson will have these pieces featured at the 46th Annual Members’ Fine Craft Exhibition this summer. 

When discussing his method for painting, Thompson said, “You get in a rhythm and the paint does its own thing. The image develops through painting.” However, “you can’t get crazy manipulating the surface because you could damage it,” Thompson said. 

He has learned that working from home isn’t necessarily what he expected, though. Typically working eight hour days, a good portion is spent on cataloging, keeping track of expenses, and managing his social media. However, this has helped him to branch out as has made a catalog for his work, created social media pages, and uses FaceBook live while painting which he calls “studio sessions.”

Thompson and his wife, Cathy, are expecting their first child, a daughter, in May.