Congratulations to all the artists of our 3rd Annual Animal Portraiture Open! We could not be happier with the diversity in styles and genres. The work represented here is dynamic, meaningful, emotive, and communicates the personality of the subjects.
It is the goal of Wild Heart Gallery to support and promote animal and wildlife artwork in a wide range of genres and styles.
Artwork for this exhibition was selected by jury based on theme, originality, skill, and quality of work. Jurors were Sarah Soward, Sharon Eisley, and Ashli Kingfisher.
Awards: Best in Show, Overall Runner Up, Artivism Award, Overall Honorable Mentions, and Finalists.
Click on an image below to enlarge it.
BEST IN SHOW
Petunia, by Cher Pruys 6 x 8 inches, Acrylic
From the artist, "I found Petunia to be a most captivating subject as she so willingly posed for me! This was captured before she showed me her mud hole...."
This painting introduces us to Petunia, her environment, and her enormous personality. We are particularly captivated by the play between realism and abstracted shapes to show motion. Even though there is more color around Petunia than on her, she commands the painting.
OVERALL RUNNER UP
Resisting a Rest, by Kathryn Hansen
12 x 9.75 inches, Colored Pencil
From the artist, "My 5 cats use to fight over this favorite ratty green blanket right next to the large window in my bedroom. When it was nice out I would open the window so they could enjoy the fresh air and sunshine when it streamed in. This time it was Livie's turn to hog the coveted blanket."
The subtle treatment of fur, eye color, and blanket texture show us the coziness of this cat. At the same time, the Livie's expression tells us she earned that blanket. We have insight into her personality in this gorgeous example of hyper-realism.
ARTIVISM AWARD
Golden Frog / Rana dorada, by Angel Eduardo Machuca Martínez 100 cm x 100 cm, Digital art with fragments of Colombian banknotes and euros
From the artist, "Golden Frog portrays Colombia's iconic and endangered golden frog, symbolizing the delicate balance between natural beauty and human exploitation. The artwork is meticulously crafted using one-centimeter-square fragments of Colombian banknotes and euros, chosen for their colors and textures.
"The use of these currencies is deliberate: Colombian banknotes represent the species’ origin and natural heritage, while euros reflect the European market, a key destination for the illegal wildlife trade. By deconstructing and repurposing money, the piece questions the relationship between economic value and the intrinsic worth of biodiversity, highlighting the devastating cost of exploitation.
"This work challenges viewers to reconsider the impact of human actions on fragile ecosystems, urging a shift in perspective from profit-driven motives to the preservation of life’s irreplaceable value."
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Congratulations to our Overall Honorable Mention winners, Karen Ackoff, Paula Bellacera, Diane Hoeptner, Nichole Cowley, Kathryn Hansen, Sarah Bennett, Annik Janssens ,CRGamache, and Limor Dekel.
FINALISTS
Congratulations to our award Finalists, Karen Kohn Duffy, Linda Garcia-Dahle, Michael Thomas, Susanne Darius, Micheline Perreault, Julie Stunden, Cher Pruys, N. Lee Wade, Patty Bailey Sheets, Riedel Reinhard, Nickie Burditt, Ryan Curtis, Shushan AleksanyanLeah Earle, Ed Hughes, Becky Lewis, and Melissa Owens.
Award Distribution for 3rd Annual Animal Portraiture Open
Best in Show receives $350 cash award and promotion on the following: Art Week, Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media and other online media channels, WHG's eNewsletter, and WHG's home page (for duration of the exhibition).
Overall Runner Up receives $100 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
Artivism Award receives $50 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
All award recipients receive promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month. All award recipients also receive an award certificate, emailed as a PDF to the email address used for the submission process.
This art exhibition was juried by Sarah Soward, Sharon Eisley, and Ashli Kingfisher.
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