15 Winning Works of Art
Enjoy an incredible display of creativity and talent in this celebration of the winners of Artists Magazine’s 38th Annual Art Competition.
Year after year, as entries for the Annual Art Competition come pouring in, the editors of Artists Magazine think, How can we possibly choose a few winners from such an array of exquisite artwork and inspired artists? Fortunately, we don’t have to. Five distinguished jurors take on the challenge of selecting first-, second- and third-place winners plus five honorable mentions within their respective categories of expertise.
Here, we invite you to join us in celebrating this year’s winning artists and their work. To read more juror feedback and stories from the artists, check out the January/February copy of Artists Magazine. Better yet, become a member to enjoy instant access plus a yearlong subscription, instruction from today’s top artists, and more.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and a huge thank-you to our jurors. And now…on to the art!
Categories:
Now Open! Enter the 39th Annual Art Competition
Portrait/Figure
First Place
Behind the Art
“The children depicted in Deliverance had abandoned their mothers’ rules about staying clean—completely losing themselves while playing in a gully of muddy water after a flash flood. As they thrashed around, I yelled, ‘Stop!’ They became still for just a few seconds, and I captured the moment in a 4×4 reference photo that carried a message so strong that Deliverance practically painted itself. I miss simple childhood experiences like this one, which entailed nothing but a rainfall, mud and total freedom to play. Kids have this natural ability to feel connected to the world.” —Teresa Elliott
Why It Stands Out
“Deliverance conjures many questions as I observe the children in the mud and consider the title. There’s a tension between the friends, the water, the mud and the word ‘deliverance.’ The work packs a punch with its concept and emotional content.”
— Jean Pederson, juror
Second Place
“The expression on the man’s face appears slightly amused while the cats continue to engage, perhaps more in control than the master. Iconography is a useful tool to communicate ideas in this piece that captures a surreal moment.”
Jean Pederson, juror
Related: 11 Ways to Catch a Juror’s Eye
Third Place
“Mother and Child provides a sweet spot between the human condition and the role of many women in our society. The piece speaks to me of quilts sewn together, perhaps indicating family history and community.”
— Jean Pederson, juror
Honorable Mentions
Caitlin Winner, Is There Anything New? 
Irena Roman Scituate, Wayne 
William A. Karaffa, The Modern Human 
Janvier Rollande Harpswell, Leo, Dreaming on the Edge of Time 
Kerri Warner, The Ladies Who Lunch
Related: 7 Award-Winning Watercolor Portraits and Figures
Still Life/Interior
First Place
Behind the Art
“Sometimes the world gets heavy, but I try to bring a level of whimsy and silliness to everything I do, including my art. History Has Its Eyes on You was my quirky way of dealing with the news while everyone was holed up during the pandemic. My goal was to create a traditional atelier still life—yet make it fun. I strive to grab viewers’ attention—and then give them something extra as they lean into the painting. In this case, the title can lead viewers to the Broadway hit Hamilton. Once I’d settled on the painting’s composition and components, I found I was singing to myself this famous line from George Washington’s song.” —Tim Rakarich
Why It Stands Out
“The painting is witty and beautifully executed. The composition supports the focal point, bringing the viewer to the eyes—and the narrative is fun.”
— Todd Casey, juror
Second Place
“The composition pulls the viewer through the painting. I love the narrative and the way all the elements feel balanced—and the color is the star of the show!”
Todd Casey, juror
Third Place
Related: Elements of a Still Life Painting: A Step-by-Step Demo
Honorable Mentions
Alexandra Leonetti, The Globalist 
Chris Krupinski, Caramel Apples 
Blair Atherholt, Vanitas 
Peter Seltzer, Alchemy 
Tim C. Tyler, Wine in a Box
Animal/Wildlife
First Place
Behind the Art
“Of my many bovine paintings, Desert Brahman is probably my favorite. The noonday sun falling across this huge mammal made the subject hard to ignore, and my only challenge was enduring the 100-degree summer temperature when taking reference photos. What attracted me most to this bull was the bruise-like coloring around his eye. I took advantage of this detail and moved in close, which also enabled me to capture the animal’s expression. I like the intimacy and the empathic feelings evoked when viewing cows up close.” —Teresa Elliott
Why It Stands Out
“When Desert Brahman came up on my screen, I actually said, ‘Wow!’ out loud. It has so many things going for it: the limited palette, the use of negative spaces, the handling of the edges—and the artist clearly has an understanding of the subject.”
— Anne Peyton, juror
Second Place
“The angles in the composition and the feet breaking the border give the impression that the rabbit could spring out of the picture at any moment.”
— Anne Peyton, juror
Third Place
Related: Animal Art Tips & Inspiration
Honorable Mentions
Susan Wehrman, Basking 
Denis Mayer, Jr., Father’s Foresight 
Sandra Blair, Feeding Frenzy 
Shawn Gould, Golden Harvest 
Denise J. Howard, Cause and Effect
Abstract/Experimental
First Place
Behind the Art
“Road Map 2 is part of a mixed-media series called Finding Our Way. The inspiration for these works started with two words from a magazine article: right path. From there I created pieces related to the concept of selecting the right path—one that enables us to shape our future and lead us to a better place than the path we’re currently following. We may have a road map to reach our goal, or we may embark on a path based on a series of choices, stacked one upon the other, as we move forward in our lives.” —J.L. Schwartz
Why It Stands Out
“Structured and free-form at the same time, Road Map 2 pulls me around the edges with quick darts inward to various and intriguing areas. I can feel the artist’s hand moving and responding to what needs to happen at that moment in the painting process.”
— Carla O’Connor, juror
Second Place
“At first glance, I imagined the sounds of tiny bells ringing all at once. This hypnotizing painting vibrates with patterns of warm and cool colors and large and small shapes. Every inch is packed with a secret message.”
Carla O’Connor, juror
Third Place
Related: Create Abstract Art in Pastel, Acrylic, and Watercolor: 3 Must-Watch Videos!
Honorable Mentions
Marc Schimsky, Horsehead 
Morgan Taylor, As I Grow 
Catherine Mein, Celestial Blue 
Pat Dews, Arctic Thaw 
Margaret Larlham, Monkey Bush Chatter
Landscape
First Place
Behind the Art
“St. Charles Airline Bridge No. 2 is a close-up view of an often photographed Chicago bridge. I placed my camera on the ground to capture a sense of mass. I loved the angle, but the day was overcast and dull, so I substituted a favorite sunset cloudscape. When I start painting, I often place my paper at an angle and throw different colors at it to create an overall texture. In this piece, after masking off areas, I threw even more paint at the paper to simulate years of weathering. Compositionally, the calm areas of the sky allowed me to show a lot of detail in the structure without overwhelming the painting.” —Peter V. Jablokow
Why It Stands Out
“This painting has a great combination of colors and is beautifully designed. The varying color values lend a sense of distance and atmosphere.”
— Desmond O’Hagan, juror
Second Place
Third Place
Related: Top 5 Landscape Paintings of the Past 5 Years
Honorable Mentions
Michael Ridge, Tracks 
Lynette Cook, Onward and Upward 
Mary Jo Van Dell, Approach 
Richard Russell Sneary, Carrie Furnace #6 
Scott Krohn, Healing Rhythm
Thank You…and Keep It Coming!
Thank you to everyone who submitted their artwork and a HUGE congratulations to the winners! We’re inspired by your creativity and honored to showcase the best of the best. If you’d like to see your work featured next year, here’s the first step: submit to the 39th Annual Art Competition today.
And remember, you can see more juror feedback and stories behind the art in the Jan/Feb issue of Artists Magazine. Or become a member and get a free subscription, plus discounts on competition entries, instruction from today’s top artists, and much more.
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