Animals

Our seventh Art competition “Animals” started in April 2024 and concluded on May 02, 2024. Art Room Gallery received entries from many countries around the world: USA, Finland, China, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Italy. The Animals theme in this competition included a diversity in types, styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, gouache, 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 54 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:

Shawna Hinkel is a Master Photographer from Dallas, Texas. She has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Texas A&M University, and has been a professional photographer since 2004. She earned her PPA Certification in 2014 and PPA Master of Photography degree in 2019. She was awarded Life Membership in Dallas PPA in 2020, and earned her Accredited Professional of Animal Imagery degree in 2021. In 2023, she became the second Master of WPE from the United States, and also became a Master Photographer in Fine Art from MPI. Her work has been accepted in the PPA International Photographic Competition Annual Exhibition every year since 2016. She was the Dallas PPA Photographer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and was named as one of the Top 10 photographers in Texas in 2020. She also received the American Society of Photographers’ State Elite Award in 2020. It has been said that “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” and I have found this to be true. Not only in people, but also in animals - most especially in the great apes. My series “Almost Human” explores the eyes and expressions of these magnificent creatures, looking for the souls in our most closely-related counterparts. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans are so much like us that if you spend a little time with them, you can almost tell what they are feeling. Some are young and playful, some are old and wise, and some are shy and do not want to be bothered. I want to show the heart of these beautiful animals so more people can find a deeper understanding and affection for them, and learn more about the conservation efforts in place to help them. What a better world it would be for man and apes alike.

Statement:

My name is Vera Shingareva, and I am the founder of an artistic metal workshop opened in Russia in 2018. Since then, our workshop has been operating successfully, specializing in the development and creation of metal sculptures. One of our projects includes metal sculptures titled "Red Deer" and "Bear Family." These intriguing works were specifically designed for urban municipalities and installed in public spaces of city parks in remote northern cities of Russia. We take pride in the fact that our sculptures have become prominent elements of urban architecture, bringing joy to the residents and visitors of these cities. Our team is constantly working on creating new unique projects to adorn and enrich public spaces, making them more appealing and cozy.

Statement:

Kathy Paulus resides in Southern California and is a self- taught pastel artist. She subjects are most commonly animal portraits and still life subjects. She done many commissioned work for pet and animal portraits and enjoys the joy it brings to a devoted pet owner. She has a special interest in painting wild cats and horse subjects. She also specializes in Scratchboard art and became a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artist in 2018. She is an active member of the Redlands Art Association in Redlands California. I am a self-taught artist specializing in pastel work. I specialize in pet/animal portraits and still life subjects. I also specialize in Scratchboard and became a member of the International Society of Scratchboard Artist in 2018. I also love to explore other mediums such as colored pencil and watercolor. I enjoy realism and the challenge to capture the real beauty of an animal. I have a special love for horses and the wild cats. I also enjoy still life subjects and love the challenge to paint all the details that I can see. I also enjoy teaching in workshops and sharing the knowledge I have obtained through the years with other artist. Art for me is doing what brings joy to me and sharing it with other artist.