Current Exhibition

Our seventh Art competition “Botanicals” started in January 2025 and concluded on February 27, 2025. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: USA, Latvia, UK, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Norway. The Botanicals theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, oil, digital art, photography). The following evaluation criteria has been used for judging the artwork: creativity, interpretation of the theme, originality and quality of art, overall design, demonstration of artistic ability, and usage of medium. Jury decided to select 35 artworks for inclusion in the exhibition. Aside from First, Second, and Third place Jury also presented Merit awards and Honorable Mention awards.

Thank you, and enjoy the exhibition!

First place

Statement:

As I entered my sixties, I began to pursue the dreams of my youth by picking up the paintbrush once again. Born in a rural village, I had a particular fondness for art classes from a young age. I often represented my school in various art competitions and won numerous awards, which planted the dream of becoming a painter in my heart. After completing my military service, I entered the workforce. Fortunately, my career was closely related to art. From being a background artist for cartoon films, to working in advertising design, graphic design, children's book illustration, art editing, children's book planning, and eventually managing children's book publishing, thirty years flew by in the blink of an eye.

Statement:

I’m a self taught disabled award winning artist and illustrator and now an inspirational artist who has defeated death many times. I was born with a rare genetic disorder called Elhers Danlos Syndrome only diagnosed in 2015. I’m truly a walking miracle. I have 26 screws and two rod’s holding my spine. I also have severe learning disabilities and memory problems. I began my art in 2015 at the age of 40. I began creating realistic drawings and paintings. I found that I can work in many mediums but my medium of choice I discovered is pastels. I’ve created over 85 pastels and over 150 drawings and paintings since 2015. I enjoy drawing and painting in a photorealistic style using photographs. I was inspired to become an artist by a child prodigy Akiane Kramarik who started painting at the age of four. She painted what has become one of the most recognized image of Jesus at the age of eight. Her spiritual story and art inspired me to begin my own art. I enjoy depicting people, children, pets, wildlife, landscapes, nature, still lives and botanicals. My inability to ever have children of my own draws me to depict them. I began exhibiting my art work in local galleries and online in 2018. My work has been accepted in over 400 exhibits and I have received over 300 awards. My works has been featured in 12 magazines. I hope to be able to continue to share my miraculous inspirational story with the world and give others a renewed sense of hope. I am hoping that my story will inspire artists to pick up a pencil and brush and start drawing and painting. I am also hoping that my story will help others grow spiritually and get closer to God.

Statement:

I love walking through the woods searching for a glimpse of nature consisting of a little something extraordinary, what I call ‘a purple leaf’ or inspiration, for my natural still life colored pencil artworks. I am fascinated by natural objects composed by nature, time, and conditions that reveal this uniquely beautiful but seldom noticed natural world. The aesthetic beauty of leaves, diverse in types, shapes and colors, combined with elements of earth, water and stone, are my purple leaf or inspiration guiding my artistic journey to discover and share nature's serenity. Frank Lloyd Wright said it best: “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” While the foliage of woodland trees keeps me returning to the natural world, it’s the beautiful organic lines, the rich earth colors, the dramatic lighting, and the interesting textures that keep me there. I love to hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the smell of rich moist soil, and an overall feeling of tranquility while walking through the woods. Nature does not stand still but I strive to capture the special moments of beauty, of absolute wonder, and serenity of nature in my artworks.