Exhibitions

June 21 - September 2, 2021
CAC Virtual Gallery

Moments of Joy, the second installment of our new quarterly Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition, celebrates the delight of the carefree summer months. Imagery could reflect an idyllic view of a sandy beach on a warm summer day, a celebration of one of life’s many special occasions or unexpected moments that bring a smile to your face.

Our gratitude goes to Kristin Hoerth, editor-in-chief of Southwest Art magazine, for being the guest judge and curating these images for this virtual exhibition, showcasing the most exemplary submissions as well as the prize-winning works.

Artwork is available for purchase. If you have interest in acquiring a work, please submit a purchase inquiry. In addition, we suggest consulting our Terms of Sale.

View the Exhibition

Congratulations to the Winners!

First Place – $1,000 Prize

Jing Zhao
Frolicking in the Shallow
Oil, 20" x 24"

This impressionistic scene epitomizes the “moments of joy” theme. You can practically feel the exuberance of the young girl who is the main figure. There’s a terrific sense of motion and movement carried throughout every element here, from the water to the figures’ limbs to their hair. The red hat and yellow life preserver add just the right touches of color in just the right places to enhance the composition.

– Kristin Hoerth

Second Place – $500 Prize

Jane Hunt
New Beginnings
Oil on panel, 18" x 24"

This beautiful tonal painting does an impressive job of balancing the colors of sky, land, and water at a difficult time of day to capture. Particularly notable is the treatment of the twinkling lights, which feel completely believable and utterly magical at the same time. The texture of the clouds is also well done, as it seems to imbue that element with extra weight, interest, and meaning.

– Kristin Hoerth

Third Place – $250 Prize

Marlene Walters
California Poppies
Oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This vibrant painting immediately captured my attention. The saturated color and crisp, simplified form of the petals makes them appear to leap off the canvas, while the treatment of the stems in the water glass provides compelling contrasts in shape and color. Finally, the background brushwork manages to be interesting and lovely without robbing the poppies of any of their impact.

– Kristin Hoerth

Honorable Mention – $75 Prize

Gil Sambrano
Bass
Acrylic on canvas panel, 20" x 16"

There are a wealth of interesting textures in this painting to enjoy, from the gorgeous skin tones to the perfectly captured hair to the not-really-white white shirt. The edges throughout the piece are very well handled. And on top of all this skillful work is the emotional impact of the painting, in which we sense concentration, determination, and earnestness in the musician’s face, particularly the eyes and mouth.

– Kristin Hoerth