Faces

Our first Art competition “Faces” started in November 2020 and concluded on December 24, 2020. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: USA, Germany, Canada, Austria, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Azerbaijan, Romania, Cyprus, Nigeria, Australia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Israel, Italy, Poland, Mexico, Brazil and Portugal. The Faces theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, oil on linen, photography, pastel, mixed media, color pencil, polymer clay, steel, watercolor, collage, pen on paper, graphite and charcoal). 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 96 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:

I began my creative exploration in the early years of my childhood, based in the U.S. I work mainly by commission, exhibiting nationally and internationally in private, solo and group exhibitions. I work in various genres and mediums preferring oil paint and pastels for my figurative and portraiture work, most of which I mix myself. I work in oils, acrylics, encaustics, pigments and a host of mixed media materials enthusiastically embracing a good challenge which suits my vast range of versatility in the disciplines, mediums and styles in which I continue to emerge within. I have a deep love of metaphoric narratives that catch the audience off guard in their quest for delving into and piecing together all that envelops us. Hoping always the needs to be taken in by each viewer are done so on a level that speaks to each one individually. I travel extensively and work to raise awareness for causes I believe in passionately such as human rights, social issues, children, animals, famine, poverty and bullying as I too was severely bullied for most of my youth into teens and have offered my skills as a guest speaker and in art therapy to help children and teens heal/ repair by, as I like to say “keeping what empowers oneself and recycling the rubbish and keeping their heads above the rest”. I promote arts education and support women’s issues, disaster relief and environmental issues as well. I've always felt a mind without walls is required to resist stagnation henceforth imploring the constant rejuvenation of the source wherein ones’ creativity flows.Creative innovation is imperative to thrive in the world and only the arts have such an ability to inform and engage viewers in critical issues of our time. There is no other medium that has such power.

Statement:

Christopher Mooney is known as a professional artist in Portland, OR for his urban landmarks, primarily bridges, industrial sites and working heroes, and is currently creating commissioned portraits. Mooney hikes around the bridges of Portland and other cities with his camera and step off the sidewalks to get a different perspective of the city and its bridges. He creates his large-scale oils from photo references. Born and raised in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, surrounded by an artistic family of writers, musicians, and architects amidst the vast New York art scene, he received a Bachelor Fine Arts Degree from Parson’s School of Design. He continues to enjoy studies in portraiture and figurative workshops at Pacific Northwest Collage of Art, Portland, OR and is currently a member of the Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America, International Guild of Realism, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, and the Oregon Society of Artists. Receiving a BFA Degree from Parson’s School of Design, I have been an oil painter in the Portland, OR area for over 30 years. My paintings are large scale and representational. I spent most of my career making a name for myself as a painter focused on urban landmarks, most notably bridges. After many years as a distant observer of man-made forms, I am now drawn to depicting the human form. I create portraiture and figurative works occasionally using the red and blue flood lights. Giving the unusual dynamics of the way light is reflected on the figure, it is fascinating how this lighting brings out each subject’s emotional undertones, allowing their natures to rise to the surface. My technique mimics the old masters, shifting the style to a contemporary ambience through careful and expressive brushstrokes.

Statement:

I ‘m a semi-retired artist living in Lawrence Kansas. An artist since childhood, I have experimented with and mastered many mediums such as oils, acrylics, and sculpture. I taught classes in oils for many years. I owned and operated a cottage industry for 17 years creating a line of clay ornaments and jewelry which I sold all over the world. About 18 years ago I discovered color pencils and have never looked back. I love the way I can capture light and shadows in the portraits I do of my family. My inspiration comes from wanting to have these treasured memories in my home; photos are great but a portrait created from snapshots of life is more special. I strive to capture details; I like high contrast. I have done animals, still life, and landscapes in color pencil but my favorite is portraits. I do color pencil artwork on commission working from photographs. I’m also a licensed artist for the Kansas Jayhawks. The medium for Jayhawk work is usually acrylics. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! My first experience with a workshop in color pencils was with Ann Kullberg, it was in Chicago, met many nice color pencil folks and learned so much what a great time we had. I have also had the pleasure of having Ann as a guest in my home for two different 5 day workshops with friends and family color pencil artists we had so much fun. The conversation was strong toward color pencils of course but sometimes laughter or sadness as we shared our lifetime memories and experiences with color pencils and otherwise. I have been published in several of Ann’s Color magazine. And in Hidden treasures publication and in Hidden treasures publication