Artistic Challenge #1 - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

Dear Patrons,

Today we are delighted to announce the winners of our first Artistic Challenge!

We would like to thank you all for submitting so many beautiful artworks. It was very difficult to limit our choices to one winner and two runners-up.  Here are all the beautiful entries we received!

The criteria for judging this year’s self portrait challenge included among other things the capacity of the artists to convey their personalities, to let us feel who they are, but to also experience a world beyond the subject, whether it be in the gaze, the posture or a particular detail that captures the eye of the viewer and brings us beyond the confines of the picture frame into the physical and psychological space of the subject. Then, handling of the medium, skill in technique, bravura, all entered into our final considerations.

The winner of the Artistic Challenge #1 is Joanna Szumiec!

Joanna Szumiec

Anxiety

Oil on linen, 60 x 50 cm

2021

More about Joanna:

Joanna has travelled extensively and works in tourism. She is primarily self-taught, having studied other subjects in her home country of Poland. As the challenge winner, Joanna will receive a personal critique from an FAA instructor. Of her art, she says, "I constantly look for valuable content to help me improve my painting skills. At the same time I'm looking for my own style. I am fascinated by the paintings of old masters such as Velazquez or Rembrandt. I admire the painting of John Singer Sargent. I am also fascinated by mysticism, symbolism of myths and religions, psychology, traveling and learning about different cultures - I try to combine these passions working on my painting project called '36 Insights' (https://joartnow.com/36-insights). I am absorbed in the symbolic aspects of art, I observe people - contemplate upon the multitude and diversity of their behaviours and emotions as well as psychological reasons for adaptation to existing conditions. Perhaps this is the reason why people appear in my paintings so often."

Instagram: @jo_art_now 

Congratulation to our two runners-up!

Liam Godfrey

Liam Godfrey

Self-portrait with Impaired left ventricle

Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40 cm

Michal Raz Nassi

Michal Raz Nassi

Self

Resin, 38 x 23 x 23 cm

Thanks again to all the participants and congratulations to our winners!

Looking forward to the next challenge!