Artistic Excellence 2012

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Meet the 13 artists who came out on top in our annual art competition.

By Bonnie Gangelhoff

Southwest Art December 2012

on the cover: The Sentinel by Jonathan Ahn

This story was featured in the December 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine December 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine December 2012 digital download here. Or simply subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

Our annual Artistic Excellence competition drew more than 2,200 entries this year. The editorial team examined each of them carefully, asking ourselves a series of questions: What kind of impact does this piece have? Does it pack an emotional punch? Does it convey a strong sense of mood? Is it well designed, with an interesting composition? Is the drawing solid? Is the use of color sophisticated? After thoughtful consideration of all these points and more, we proudly present this year’s winners—three top awards and ten honorable mentions. We think you’ll agree that they are an impressive sampling from today’s representational art world.

Albert Ramos Cortes, The Man I Loved, oil, 30 x 24.1st Place: Albert 
Ramos Cortes, California

 

 

 

 

Santiago Michalek, It’s Time, oil, 48 x 48.2nd Place: Santiago Michalek, Utah

 

 

 

 

Heather Lara, A Glimpse of the Past, scratchboard, 16 x 20.3rd Place: Heather Lara , California

 

 

 

 

Nathan Solano, 6 Below, Christmas Eve Morning, 2011, oil, 20 x 30.Honorable Mention: Nathan Solano, Colorado

 

 

 

 

Micaiah Hardison, Surf Lesson, oil, 15 x 30.Honorable Mention: Micaiah Hardison, California

 

 

 

 

Cecile Baird, Beauty So Deep, It Makes You Weep, colored pencil, 14 x 20.Honorable Mention: Cecile Baird, Ohio

 

 

 

 

Mark Boedges, Spinning Out of the Green, oil, 18 x 24. Honorable Mention: Mark Boedges, Vermont

 

 

 

 

Bruce Lawes, Elegance, oil, 30 x 48.Honorable Mention: Bruce Lawes, Canada

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Feustel, Green Hanbok, oil, 36 x 18. Honorable Mention: Cynthia Feustel, Colorado

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Ahn, The Sentinel, oil, 48 x 48. Honorable Mention: Jonathan Ahn, California

 

 

 

 

Patsy Lindamood, Seaside Romp, pastel, 24 x 36.Honorable Mention: Patsy Lindamood, Texas

 

 

 

 

Eric Bowman, Iron Maiden, oil, 16 x 20.Honorable Mention: Eric Bowman, Oregon

 

 

 

 

Pauline Roche, Checking the Nets (Alexandria, Egypt), oil, 30 x 40.Honorable Mention: Pauline Roche, California

 

 

 

 

Featured in the December 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art magazine December 2012 digital download
Southwest Art magazine December 2012 print edition
Or subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!

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