Still Life

Our third Art competition “Still Life” started in October 2023 and concluded on November 30, 2023. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: China, USA, Switzerland, Germany, Taiwan, Canada and Australia. The Still Life theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, pencil, graphite, ink, digital painting, 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 72 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!

Statement:

Zhuang Danhua, male, Han nationality. Born in Zhoushan, Zhejiang in 1983. Graduated from Hangzhou Arts and Crafts School in 2003 and started working. In 2005, he studied in the Second Studio of the Oil Painting Department of China Academy of Art, where he studied under the tutelage of He Hongzhou, Chang Qing, Sun Jinggang, Chen Yiming and Wang Yutian. Graduated from the Oil Painting Department of China Academy of Art in 2009. In the same year, he began to specialize in realistic oil painting. In December 2017, the series "Hai Yun" was selected for the "Back to Sensibility" contemporary art multi-year exhibition in Hangzhou. In January 2018, the work "Haiyun 3" was selected into the "Potential and Realization" contemporary concrete oil painting exhibition - and the art exhibition to welcome the 2022 Winter Olympics. In December 2018, the work "Confrontation" participated in the "2018 B Chain Artist Works Invitational Exhibition" at Gallery B in Shanghai M50 Art Park. In January 2019, the works "The Other Shore" and "Looking Back" participated in the "Jiangnan Painting" exhibition in Hangzhou. Painting Jiangnan" Jiangnan realistic oil painting exhibition. In January 2019, the works "Confrontation 2" and "Conch on the Old Book Box" participated in the "Appearance - Choice of Style" oil painting exhibition at Hangzhou Sika Art Center. In April 2021, the works "Conch and Book 5" and "Accompanying Series 1" participated in Ningbo's "The Most Artful Future - Contemporary Youth Art Exhibition".

Statement:

Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA. "To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self expression." Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs and 2 cats. By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, water color and gouache. Although self taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 382 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non juried shows. She has won 480 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits. Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, 33 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, & the latest the covers of #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”. She has been featured in over 224 International publications. Cher's works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.

Statement:

I was born and raised in La Porte Indiana. I have always felt from a very young age that I was meant to pursue a career in art. In High School I had a wonderful art teacher who stressed drawing and exposed the class to the works of the old masters. He recognized my potential from the start and encouraged me to enter competitions. I earned a scholarship to Herron School of art school in Indianapolis. After three semesters in school, I realized there was more to art in the 60s than I was prepared to accept at the time. I decided to enter the military. After a tour in Viet Nam, I entered and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BFA degree in painting. There I learned to appreciate all styles of art. Though I would have loved to be a full time painter, my career led me into technical illustration at an Aerospace company in Phoenix Arizona. There, my wife and I lived and raised 3 children. After 40 years, I retired and am now creating real art full time. My Acrylic paintings won the Director’s Award twice at the Arizona State Fair. I have also shown Acrylic and Watercolor paintings in multiple International online exhibitions and shown in various states. I am continuing to understand in my latter years who I am as an artist and what my strengths and weaknesses are. Concerning my subject matter, I strive to understand the importance of each moment captured in time and realize that in each search for material to paint or draw, there is significance even in the seemingly most insignificant.