Best in Show (Traditional)
Brian McClear
Best in Show
(Digital & Photography)
Barbara Mierau-Klein
Best in Show
(3-Dimensional)
David Tinsley
2nd Place (Traditional)
Sarah Warda
My art is an expression of both my observations and an emotional spiritual response to the world around me. When I paint, be it the human form or landscape, I am always striving to capture the “inner” life of my subject. Although my technique is deeply rooted in the traditional classical style as was my formal education, my approach to the subject begins on a very visceral level always seeking that which one cannot merely observe with the eye, but what lies beneath.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Sarah’s work please visit her website.
2nd Place
(Digital & Photography)
Randy Gaul
Randy Gaul is an artist living and working in Fairfax, California. Over the past 25 years Randy has lent his talents to over 74 films as well as hundreds of commercials, games, resort developments and virtual reality. In September 2017, Randy founded Halocline Studio as a natural extension of his creativity. This new venture is not only a gallery space for his works, but also a collaborative public gallery that has already featured other local artists, writers and creatives within the his extended community.
As Randy’s art evolves, he has developed a studio ethos that revolves around discarded items that find their way back into his art. This process takes into mind the unprecedented waste our hyper consumptive culture so easily discards. Randy sees tremendous value in what some consider waste or byproducts, ranging from industrial manufacturing processes to simple roadside, “broken” furniture. Randy most often uses acrylic resin as a vehicle for these items, along with paints and many other mixed media.
To see more of Randy’s work, please visit his website.
2nd Place
(3-Dimensional)
Sherry Lupo
ARTIST BIO:
Born into a Musically & fine Art talented family, Sherry an American painter has been richly exposed & happy to grasp the Arts with a passion her entire life. The encouragement of Sherry’s entire family along with the beautiful geographic’s of her youth complete with horse ranches, citrus groves & miles of Surf & Beaches provided an ideal setting for early Artistic inspiration & development.
Living within dreamlike surroundings, Sherry’s early interest in drawing & painting began resulting in self taught abilities. Every aspect of Art development & education through school drew Sherry as she continued to elect for every type of Art education class available. Shortly after, in fact one semester after having chosen & attending nearby Pierce Jr. College after high school, Sherry met, married & started a family of three children which swiftly put her Art career on the back burner for a number of years.
While her children were still quite young, Sherry was able to make a good business of Photography. All the while, Sherry realized that her love of Art was still on hold. It took ten years to quit her photography business in order to make room for full time Studio Art. It was after her children were grown & her husbands career ended with his retirement. Sherry quit her own business “Faces Plus” with intentions of devoting as much time as possible to Studio Art. Figurative & Portrait Art were Sherry’s initial focus for painting but not limited to these.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Creating Art is an interesting relationship with materials. I’ve somehow managed to find a point where I attack it without fear & keep moving along until something begins to manifest. It’s entirely wonderful. I’m a forever student of this marvelous experience seeking & absorbing while continuing to grow.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Sherry’s work please visit her website.
3rd Place (Traditional)
Aleksandra Lis
I have graduated from the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Architecture. Currently I am a research scientist and an academic teacher at the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, with post-doctoral degree in field of architecture and urban planning. Despite my education, I am not so interested in Architecture as much as I am in Man. As a scientist, I explore issues regarding the relationship between Man and the environment and, aside from my research and teaching work, Man is a subject for my painting studies in various portrait impressions.
To see more of Aleksandra’s work please visit her website.
3rd Place
(Digital & Photography)
Jim Leach
Jim Leach has been taking award winning photographs for 20 years. He has lived all over the world on assignment, europe, asia, middle east and now lives in the Hill Country of Texas, USA. He has over 30,000 photos in his library and sells prints of his work from all over the world. Proceeds from his photography business mainly goes to support families of Special Needs Children in central Texas.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Jim’s work, please visit his website.
3rd Place
(3-Dimensional)
Joanna Sokolowska
Joanna Sokolowska, born in 1984, is an artist – painter and sculptor from Poland. Her rich education is both artistic and linguistic, both in Poland and abroad. Recipient of Fulbright Scholarship in 2013, she studied at the MassachusettsCollegeofArt in Boston, USA, where she received her MFA degree in May 2015. Earlier she received MasterofFineArts degree at the DepartmentofSculpture – AcademyofFineArts inWarsaw (2012), Erasmus scholarship at the DepartmentofSculpture – AcademyofFineArts in Rome, Italy (2009/2010); MA degree in EnglishPhilology at the InstituteofAppliedLinguistics – WarsawUniversity (2009); BA degree at the CollegeofEnglishLanguageTeacherEducation- WarsawUniversity (2006).
International context is very important in her creative path. As a Fulbright Alumni, she travels and creates worldwide spreading the belief in the uniting power of Art, crossing barriers between cultures and divisions. Once in Poland, she has been Sculpture and Painting Instructor at WarsawArtsAcademy and OfficynaArtandDesign Gallery. Her works are being sold in a few galleries in Warsaw (NapiorkowskaGallery, OfficynaGallery, StalowaGallery). She exhibited her works in Poland, Italy ,USA and Thailand.
She attended international residencies and seminars in USA, France and Thailand. Her paintings and sculptures revolve around the theme of human being, his interior emotions, life, psyche, dual nature – sensual and spiritual. She combines elements of realism with expressive, emotional quest for power of expression. For her, the human form is like a temple; a sphere of sacrum, which encompassed the richness of emotions and experiences. These states of mind are sources of exploration to seek those binding qualities that make us human. Sculpture and Painting is a way to convert intangible feelings into three-and two-dimensional forms. Her main intention is to move, to touch, to invite the viewer to reflect and explore the beauty of own being. Her works are evidence of a search for the means of expression that split the self into a dilemma of human experience.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Joanna’s work, please visit her website.
4th Place (Traditional)
Laurie Rosenberg
Laurie is an artist with some formal art education in areas such as painting, photography, drawing and ceramics. She has a degree in textiles and clothing. Laurie is currently living in Israel. She retired from teaching four years ago and has been working on her art projects since then. She is interested in conveying feelings through the eyes and body language of her subjects.
Her current collection is influenced by the women’s movement as she tries to show us different attitudes projected by the women in her paintings. Quick drying acrylics are her preference. Laurie is a member of the Herzliya Artists Organization, she is a Daylighted artist, her paintings are shown in southern California hotels, and she has been published in Exquisite Arts magazine. Laurie has participated in many group shows in Israel and the United States. She has shown in many online galleries.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Laurie’s work, please visit her website.
4th Place
(Digital & Photography)
August Naude
After retirement from a successful career in the ICT world, August quickly discovered his immense passion for artistic photography, digital art and low key & grunge photography. Therefore, it was no surprise when he joined the various training programmes of the “father of digital art”, the famous Sebastian Michaels based in Arizona (USA) who has influenced the artwork of August to a large extent. August also graduated at the New York Institute of Photography with distinction, specializing in Intense Portrait Photography.
August almost got molded in a record time, becoming a master in low key studio work, grunge photo art as well as full blast digital art and artistic photography. He was selected as one of Photoshop Artistry’s international Top-500 which is called “Kaizen” and this group of top digital artists produce the most magical works of art. His work has been published in almost 30 international publications all over the globe of which the latest was a full-blown biography of him in the Austrian based Fine Eye Magazine.
During his artistic journey, August participated in various group exhibitions and he has received numerous honorary mentions and international prizes for his work. He was invited by Eikon Culture Visual Reflections, being the only South African between artists of over 70 countries to participate in three international exhibitions in Italy. You will recognise his name as Auguste Naude on their page. During 2017 and 2018, August has been exhibiting at the Heaven Art Gallery which was based in Arizona and he is still exhibiting at the Blank Wall Gallery, in Athens, Orenda Gallery in Nevada as well as various online exhibitions like Fusion Art Gallery. His work is on display and is accessible internationally. August is also a fully affiliated member of the Lyon based Circle Foundation For The Arts.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of August’s work, please visit his website.
4th Place
(3-Dimensional)
David Tinsley
International Award Winning Artist David Tinsley is best known for his ability to create thought invoking three dimensional sculptures from unaltered driftwood found in the Pacific Northwest.
David says that working as an artist helped him find a place in the world, a way to connect on the deepest level with those who have been moved by his work. His inspirations come from the Life Source itself. He feels that the objects that make up our environment can have a profound effect on our soul. “Their roles should be evocative and provocative, they should allow us to relax with them, and challenge us to make lofty ideas”
He approaches his ideas with enthusiasm and wonder, always taking it a little further and asking …”What If?”
Please visit David’s website to purchase this award winning artwork or to see more of his work.
5th Place (Traditional)
Hima Chennamaraju
Through Hima’s eyes, the world is a colossal, dynamic, three-dimensional painting. It is bursting with fascinating forms with constantly changing colors. The shifting seasons mesmerize her every year as though she is experiencing them for the first time. The forms and shapes of everyday objects and the way they interact with each other render her wordless. By no means can she isolate a color and declare that it is her favorite. She believes that every color perceived by the human eye has its individual significance and its own purpose of existence.
The complex dynamic nature of human figure intrigues Hima endlessly. And the rippling layers of fabric on a perfectly positioned human figure, adds a mysterious and whimsical touch. Her other inspiration has always been everyday objects. Sometimes it’s the things that we all take for granted like a common chair or a piece of wood that we pass by everyday without giving a second thought about their existence. She is equally enthralled by the not so mundane objects that are visually complicated like musical instruments. Hima believes, things do not have to breathe to be called life forms. She considers anything and everything that speaks to her through its form and texture as life. And when she juxtaposes all or some of this ‘Life’ around her visually and conceptually into a composition, it forms the basis for her art work.
To purchase this award winning piece and to see more of Hima’s work, please visit her website.
5th Place
(Digital & Photography)
John McCluskey
John was born in Chicago and grew up in Connecticut, where he currently resides. While working in the IT industry for many years, John also became a published author and photographer. He applies the unique qualities obtained from a structured career and multiple creative outlets interchangeably, each discipline informing the other, a synergy constantly creating new and exciting approaches.
John’s photography acts as a perfect companion to his writing: a visual counterpoint to the written word, the two often published together as well as independently. His photography may feature negative space or geometrical patterns, as an example, whereas his writing may illuminate such space or purposely blur patterns and connections. Regardless, discipline and routine always apply.
John has had many photographs, poems, and short stories, including a novella, published in both print and on-line journals over the years.
To see more of John’s work, please visit his website.
5th Place
(3-Dimensional)
Elaine Weiner-Reed
Elaine Weiner-Reed is an award-winning, internationally known Artist. Bilingual in French, she resides in Maryland, where she has worked for over 37 years as a professional artist and writer. Weiner-Reed’s work has been included in international exhibitions in China, Hong Kong, India, Spain, France, Poland, Canada, and at least 25 national exhibits across the U.S. – to include three solo/featured and two other group shows in Chelsea (NYC). Her art is in public and private collections in Poland, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Africa, and the U.S. She participated in Poland Ministry of Culture and EU-sponsored Artist Residency Programs in Myslenice, Poland (2014, 2017). Her art has been featured in The Dobra Polska Szkola, Studio&Gallery Magazine, and more.
Elaine Weiner-Reed: “Life is Messy, Unfinished, and Beautiful.”
My art focuses on unraveling the complexity and mystery of human emotion, behavior, and relationships, featuring the individual within or outside of a group dynamic. My work integrates ideas and dream fragments, becoming an intersection between intuition and conscious, sub-conscious, and unconscious thought. Built of layers, my paintings and sculptures intrigue, pulling one in to explore and unravel the mysteries on or below the surface.
Born a twin, identity matters. In relationships, identities collide or connect, enmeshed in a temporal dance of their own design. In my work, I zoom in on an individual, defining some facets or features, and masking others. Depending on the story, I depict some as silhouettes, others as after-thoughts. My “Masks and Mirrors – Explorations of Identity” series honors the individual and the human spirit in all its color, resiliency, and fortitude. At times, we are vulnerable, unmasked, our undercarriage exposed. But we walk on. We rise, tired and sometimes broken, by sheer will continuing our journey. We cast shadows and leave traces. My art honors survival and resurrects hope.
To purchase this award winning piece or to see more of Elaine’s work, please visit her website.