Cat Writers’ Association 2018 Communications Contest Awards
Awards were announced in the Cat Writers’ Association 2018 Communications Contest on Saturday, May 18, during the three-day conference in St. Louis. I didn’t get to go to the conference and missed not only the awards banquet but also the speakers and seminars, networking, meeting with editors and seeing all the other cat writers and creatives I correspond with on social media. I did get to watch the awards presentation live online, though, and that was pretty exciting.
I am proud to enter my work in the annual Communications Contest given by the Cat Writers’ Association. I have entered materials in this contest since 2007 when I won my first awards. This very blog won a Muse Medallion for entertainment in the 2011, 2013, and 2016 and a Certificate of Excellence in the 2015 Communications Contests along with a number of articles, photos, and pieces of artwork. It’s not the award, it’s finding out where I stand among my peers with the things I do. And, ultimately, an award makes my work more valuable, and since this is what I do for a living, that’s a good thing.
My awards were mixed for art and writing, and were two Muse Medallions, awarded by the CWA, and two special awards, sponsored by the organization or outside organizations or entities. I am honored for each of the awards, and am especially excited about one of the special awards for one of my paintings:
Special Awards
Kuykendall Image Award: Allegro Moderato
CWA Kitten Care and Rescue/Adoption Award, Rescue Story: Resourceful Mom Cat Gets Her Kittens Rescued
MUSE™ Medallions
Annual or Long Publication, Rescue, Foster, Rehome, Repeat 2019: Pittsburgh C.A.T. 2019 Calendar
Illustration: Series, Klepto Cat Covers 27 through 32
More about each one follows.
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Allegro Moderato, Kuykendall Image Award and Certificate of Excellence: Fine Art
The Kuykendall Image Award is sponsored by the CWA and “presented for the outstanding ‘image’ entry featuring cats – whether photography, illustration, or graphic art. This may be a single piece or series entry, including, but not limited to, photos/artwork published in a magazine, newspaper, newsletter, book, pamphlet, calendar, poster, greeting card, or commercial online publication.”
Since this category is so general—images can come from anywhere and appear for any reason, from an illustration to an image on social media to a painting done by choice—there are many entries. This painting with its memory of Allegro and associations with T.S. Eliot and his poetry and cat imagery, and finally painting this very real moment after 30 years, is very special to me on many levels, and it fills a special spot in my heart that it was chosen for this award.
When you’re done reading here, visit Portraits of Animals to read about a 25% discount on prints of this painting, on the original, and any merchandise bearing the image too.
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CWA Kitten Care and Rescue/Adoption Award, Rescue Story: Resourceful Mom Cat Gets Her Kittens Rescued
I wanted to enter one of my TNR/rescue stories and chose this one because I’d included all the details, from Deana’s kitten “go” kit to the concerns about the weather to how many people helped over the course of a day and what we all did.
“This Award is presented for the best entry promoting kitten care, kitten rescue, and kitten adoption. Qualifying entries include “how to’s,” feral kitten rescue, early spay and neuter, orphaned kittens, and kitten adoption. Written and pictorial works in all media are acceptable, including articles, books, blogs, websites, online magazine, online newsletters, online columns, and videotape broadcasts.”
This award was formerly the Hartz Milk Replacement for Kittens Award which I’d won last year with “The Kitten Game”.
Judge’s Comments: This was super hard to judge! Every single entry was good, and they all told different and equally wonderful stories. I have chosen the loading dock rescue story after much deliberation, and re-reading them all a few times. It highlighted the difficult and common dilemma of what to do about seemingly abandoned kittens in a dangerous location. It underscored the need for compassion, patience and urgency, all at the same time. The details and ultimate success of this particular rescue were conveyed in a very relatable manner, and the included photos were a perfect accompaniment. Anyone involved in cat/kitten rescue could certainly learn a few things from this story; I certainly did!
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Annual or Long Publication, Rescue, Foster, Rehome, Repeat 2019: Pittsburgh C.A.T. 2019 Calendar
MUSE™ Medallion and Certificate of Excellence
For the third year in a row, our calendar won both a MUSE™ Medallion and Certificate of Excellence in this category.
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Illustration: Series, Klepto Cat Covers 27 through 32
MUSE™ Medallion and Certificate of Excellence
Patricia publishes about six book each year and I’ve entered the covers since 2015. I’ve won a Certificate of Excellence each year, and this year won a MUSE™ Medallion too.
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Certificates of Excellence
These two paintings won certificates of excellence in the first portion of the contest judging
Commissioned Portrait: Feebee, Amber, Buckley, Allegra and Ruby, and the Red Maple
Muse Medallions
The MUSE™ Medallion is awarded to the entry in each category receiving the highest average score from three independent judges. All judges are volunteers and are Professional CWA members. To become eligibile for a MUSE™ Medallion, each entry listed here has received an average score of at least 90, and has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence.
Certificates of Excellence
The judges have read, thought, contemplated, puzzled, agonized — and decided! Each entry was independently judged by 3 Professional CWA members. Winning a Certificate of Excellence means that the average of those three judges’ scores for the entry is 90 or above — a high bar to cross!
Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals
Fine Art • Photography • Gifts • Greeting Cards • Books • Commissioned Portraits & Artwork
Allegro Moderato
Read more about this painting here on The Creative Cat.
The original painting is still available, and I also have a variety of prints. Visit Portraits of Animals to read about a 25% discount on prints of this painting, on the original, and any merchandise bearing the image too.
Copyright
All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
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Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
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Congrats on your wins, and I am so pleased to have a copy of Allegro Moderato! WooHoo!
Thank you!! You were one of the first to order. <3
B; conga ratz and as da tabbie say 984 pawz UP on winning these awards. well deserved
and we are BUZZED HAPPEE FOR EWE !!! 🙂 YAY !!! ♥♥♥
Thank you, Tabbies! I’m still kind of overwhelmed, but I’m so happy. Being judged by a jury of your peers is a double-edged sword, but it all came out okay.
Bernadette, you are an artist in the true sense of the word. Your artwork and writing is always award-winning; full of beauty, creativity, and inspiration, it never ceases to amaze me. The artwork of Ingrid King’s cats is absolutely gorgeous, and I immediately recognized Allegra and Ruby, even before I read the caption underneath. I don’t often leave comments, but I wanted to take a few minutes to write now to tell you how much your work is admired and appreciated. Thank you for making the world a little more beautiful for us all, both people and cats.
Your cat friend,
Agatha (owned by six black cats and one grey)
Agatha, thank you so much for taking the time to tell me! I also appreciate it because I don’t leave comments very often either. I’m glowing with your praise. Bringing beauty into the world is my goal no matter my subjects, but I don’t know that I would have ever developed my visual sense without studying my cats, and I will be forever in their debt. Give your kitties a pet from me and purrs from mine!
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Many congratulations on the awards, Bernadette! Your work is marvelous, as always.
ThaNk you so much! I have the best muses, aside from the awards :).