The top five artists in each category were given awards in the 3rd Annual Lines, Shapes & Objects international online art exhibition. Below are the biographies and/or artist’s statements along with the artist’s websites or emails.
To contact these artists directly for purchase inquiries or to see more of their work, please visit the 3rd Annual Lines, Shapes & Objects Exhibition page for contact information.
Congratulations again to all the winners and thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Best in Show (Traditional) – Cher Pruys – “Unhinged” – acrylic
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal and ink over the years, until she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor and gouache.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent has seen her work juried into 99 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 75 awards for her work at the International Juried Exhibits. Included in these awards, the first recipient of a major Canadian National Award, The Mary Pratt Crystal Award of Excellence at the 2014 SCA Open Juried Exhibition, The SCA 1st place award of distinction twice respectively, 2016, and 2017 at The Canada’s 150 show. The Gold Medal recipient for Figurative Painting in The Mondial Art Academia’s International 2018 Competition. The Aviation Week & Space Technology Award Best of the Best, and the ASAA Award of Distinction for the best painting in the ASAA International Space & Technology Exhibit & Competition, consecutively for 2 years. She has had 14 solo exhibits. Cher is also an avid fused glass artist, and a certified teacher of piano and guitar.
Her painting “The Bubble” had the honour of being part of the Masterworks from The International Guild of Realism Tour. She was elected to the American Society of Aviation Artists as an artist member in 1996, and eventually was elected as a Foreign Affiliate Artist Fellow, one of only two Canadians receive this honour. Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, 14 magazines, and has-been featured in over 50 international publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
Cher’s artistic style can be described as Realism with a hint of Abstract in her latest works.
To see more of Cher’s work, please visit her website.
Best in Show (Photography & Digital) – Alec Hughes – “Between Light and Darkness #14” – photography
Biography: Alec is a visual artist based in San Francisco, California. Born and raised in the Bay Area, he took to photography at a very early age. Exploring amateur film photography in high school, he followed in his father’s footsteps, winning several local youth awards. He received an acting scholarship to attend the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a B.A. in Physical Anthropology.
Despite reveling in artistic pursuits, the fear of lacking talent and the practicality of life overwhelmed his natural creative instincts, driving him toward an entirely different future. Now, after spending 40 years laboring in Corporate America, he has leaped to rediscover a life passed up so long ago. Driven by a love of abstract art, photography has given him the tools necessary to tame and reinterpret an often-chaotic world. Through his art, he attempts to visually capture the inherent structure of things, aiming to create new environments and new realities. Photography provides him faith that underneath everything, some element of an order does exist in life.
Over the years, he has satiated his love for the arts by serving as a board member on several not-for-profits, such as the Pasadena Symphony, the Pacific Asia Museum, and the 2014 SFMOMA Modern Ball Dinner committee.
Alec is currently enrolled in City College of San Francisco’s School of Photography. In 2020, he opened his own studio at Art Explosion’s Alabama Street Studios in San Francisco. He was recently featured in the Fall 2020 SF Open Studios: A Very Special Edition, which now can be seen in the Spring 2021 Mission Artists Open Studios.
Artist Statement: My photography is heavily influenced by abstract and non-objective art. Working with light, color, composition, and materiality, I seek to immerse myself in alternate realities that surround and envelope. By manipulating the lens, I attempt to create simple expressions of complex thoughts. Often used as a healing process, this approach helps control intensely painful periods of severe depression.
In this series, inspiration came from color field artists, like Mark Rothko, Aaron Siskind, and Hiroshi Sugimoto. Here I explore sanity’s fragility when life becomes punctured and overwhelmed. In times of extreme stress, my poor eyesight becomes a gift. I find comfort in my inability to see clearly but within only a few inches. The images in this series attempt to reflect how my optic nerves materialize the subconscious.
Embracing this nebulous environment, my surroundings coalesce into abstract forms, surfaces, textures, and colors. Harshness now dissolves into softness, and edges become less defined. Over time, calm returns, and a deep meditative state develops. Still, under the surface, a nagging sense of vulnerability remains, and calm becomes shattered, yet again, by moments of intense anxiety and visceral pain. This series reflects a more ephemeral existence. By reshaping reality, I can dampen its brutal sharpness, open it to interpretation, and immerse myself in a safer and less threatening world.
To see more of Alec’s work, please visit his website.
Best in Show (3 Dimensional) – Oleg Lobykin – “Pixel” – Bronze
Observing the natural world and mystery of transformation inspires me. My work depicts an ongoing search for the origins of form and exploration of portals to other dimensions. Shifting realities is a recurring theme, as are transformation and challenging perception. Ideas that are thought provoking, impactful, and engaging take form in the visible realm.
Much of my abstract work depicts aspects of the interplay between water and air. Like organic forms, my pieces often incorporate transformation and interactivity. The interplay of reflections and intuitive arrangements create a thought-provoking form with a sense of discovery and surprise.
The existence of one essential particle of matter can amaze us with its pure aesthetic pleasure. It represents the basic urge to create, linking the physical to the metaphysical world. This points to a larger truth: harmony in contradictions. There is no bad without good, darkness without light, death without birth. Everything has a purpose even if it is unknown to us at the moment.
I’m passionate about public art as a means to create community and connection between people and nature. It is a symbiotic relationship and foundational to what it means to be human: we respond to our environment and it responds to us.
While I’m a classically trained master stone carver, as an artist and sculptor I work in a variety of materials to express my conceptually driven ideas in novel sculptural form, experimenting with texture, materials, color, or interactive elements. I try to realize the potential of art as my contribution to society.
To see more of Oleg’s work, please visit his website.
2nd Place (Traditional) – Lisa Daniels – “Independently Together” – acrylic on canvas
Lisa started training at a young age at Dorothy Cannon’s Art Studio, took many classes then studied under abstract artist Roy Henry, California. Currently represented by Off the Walls Studio Gallery for Set Decorators, California. Lisa’s latest projects include a Giclee installation for Lerner Black Hills Hotel in Florida, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel-Bellevue WA, Dibble Engineers office, DCI Engineers Office, and one in Era Living Lobby. Her solo exhibits have been the Hilton Garden Inn Bellevue WA 2019, Ryan James Fine Art WA 2018, XY Gallery, NY, 1928 Events, Seattle, EM Fine Art Seattle. She has had an extensive list of group shows including Kavanaugh Gallery Chicago, The Jones Gallery MO, Studio 103, ERA Living, Parklane Gallery WA, 311 Gallery Raleigh NC, Arts at the Ports Anacortes, Chase Gallery Spokane, Wav Gallery Ventura CA, DAB Art Gallery Ventura CA, Linus Gallery CA, Las Laguna Gallery CA, Red Art Box Rooftop Gallery CA, MT Baker Gallery WA. Awards/Certificates Extensive for more see website
To see more of Lisa’s work, please visit her website.
2nd Place (Photography & Digital) – Tim McEnerney – “Found 4” – digital photography
Though receiving an MFA shortly after college in the 70’s, photography was sidetracked to a hobby during the decades prior to coming to Colorado. Tim credits Anderson Ranch Arts Center, a connection that was more serendipitous than planned after arriving up here, for re-energizing a passion for photography.
Over the last few years has turned to Found Objects…..that is “created from undisguised, but often modified, objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function”
In viewing this work, Tim asks you to suspend the reality of what the object IS – and instead see his view of this “other world”.
To see more of Tim’s work, please visit his website.
2nd Place (3 Dimensional) – M.A. Bailey – “Light Totem” – resin and wood sculpture
M.A. Bailey originally hails from the East Coast of the U.S., where he grew up on the cliffs of the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River and New York City. There he began his love for culture and the fine arts and found the inspiration in his youth to study theatre and performance at Rutgers University and The Mason Gross School of the Arts.
After a long career working as an actor and singer in every imaginable medium – from theatre, TV, and film to video games and music videos – his interests and desires for other avenues of expression continued to grow and eventually brought him to start working with art that could be created by hand. He began by training in stained glass with a local artisan and has never since stopped exploring and expanding his points of view. His passions for new tangible expression flourishes, and he now devotes his time to working in his studio and exploring the creative process through his unique sculptures.
Some of his earliest 3-dimensional pieces took their cue from the traditional Japanese method of wood burning – yakisugi – a blackening of the wood that reveals clean, distinct lines and an inherent textural beauty. Combining that with his glass-making skills allowed for a unique take on sculptural relief and a furthered honing of his woodworking skills. Although his love for stained glass and for his particular use of it in unconventional ways hasn’t waned, the fragility of glass as a medium then led him to explore other materials and has brought him to his current series of works. Utilizing resin and recycled plastics, combined with exotic woods, to create geometric sculptures that get their inspiration from both other historical art forms like traditional stained glass and totem carving – and the natural geometric configurations and array of colors found throughout nature.
Together with his artistic partner and spouse, Sean Lim, he works from his home studio in Southern California. Both are sculptors (in very different mediums) and have combined their love and support for each other to operate as “Teks-CHur Studios.” Be sure to see Sean’s amazing work on the same website, as well. If you’d like to contact them, feel free to use the links found there.
To see more of M.A.’s work, please visit his website.
3rd Place (Traditional) – Andrew Lincoln Nelson – “Phytotessellost” – graphite pencil on bristol board
My work includes graphite line drawings of landscapes containing geometric machine creatures, plant-animal hybrids and other conglomerations that might be found in the distant future or on other worlds. Many of these drawings focus on post-technology ecosystems containing feral technology. Exploring the nature of being uniquely human is a deep trope in art, past and present. But is our supposed uniqueness really our most important aspect? Maybe what makes us alive is more important than what makes us human. Are there commonalities among all possible forms of life? Perhaps something we feel and share at a visceral level? When something catches your eye, does that mean you share affinity with it?
Nelson’s work has been shown at Biosphere 2, The Untitled Gallery, The Manifest DRAWN international survey of drawing show, The Tucson Main library Gallery, University of Arizona Galleries, The Untitled Gallery, and various national conferences including ALife 14 and the 2017 Astrobiology conference at ASU. His work has received awards at National Arts Program and University of Arizona shows and has been included in various art anthologies. They have also been used in over 30 scientific and popular publications, TED talks and lectures, and the National Arts Program Monthly Spotlight.
To see more of Andrew’s work, please visit his website.
3rd Place (Photography & Digital) – Yongil Lee – “Portrait of a Totem: Circle” – digital graphic
Yongil Lee (born 1974, Seoul) is a visual designer and visual artist, creating experimental works on the border between design and art. He is currently running a design-based startup in South Korea and has won the Merit Award at ‘Design for Asia’ and the Best Design Company Award at the ‘Korea Design Exhibition’. He is based in Korea and produces various works on the subject of dots, lines, and sides.
According to Yongil Lee, “we live in a space composed of various shapes. Since the Industrial Revolution, global urban structure has been gradually standardized, and our imagination is limited in the space of the city.”
The work “Portrait of a Totem” approaches the origins of figures in a primordial way. The core research theme of this work lies in “What is the source of supernatural power?” African masks are used in ceremonies and festivals, and they represent supernatural powers. The work attempts to discover the source of the supernatural power of African masks through triangles, squares, and circles.
“Circle,” is an experiment on the effect of the contraction and expansion of a circle on space.
This project has an unfamiliar process in which familiar shapes found in cities were applied to African masks. In the course of the work, I realized that the magical and supernatural emotions we feel stem from cultural heterogeneity. I hope that “Portrait of a Totem” becomes an opportunity to break away from the exclusive view of culture and embrace novelty.
To see more of Yongil Lee’s work, please visit his website.
3rd Place (3 Dimensional) – T Barny – “AERIE – ‘Falcon’s Nest'” – Greek marble
T Barny aspires to create sculpture that reflects a world filled with magic and wonder, celebrating the interrelated continuousness of all things through his Mobius-like works, with a single, traceable, looping edge. His works are produced through a method of direct carving, which entails having no preconceived notions or models from which to derive the final shape of his pieces. Instead, he allows the natural rhythms of the materials he uses to guide him to a final product, rich with serene fluidity. During his 40-year-career, he has produced more than 1000 works in steel, bronze, wood, and water, though his curvilinear, Mobius-inspired stone sculptures are his most celebrated.
To see more of T Barny’s work, please visit his website.
4th Place (Traditional) – Linda McCord – “Restored Ford” – acrylic on canvas
In the Car Show series, I have focused on reflections and the motors, and the cars are secondary. My art is an expression of an inner need to escape and find a place where I can go on a creative journey while exploring light and shadow, repetition of shapes and contrasts of various kinds. Together these form to create a sense of rhythm. The viewer is invited to come along and travel to the focal point, rest there awhile then move on to explore each nuance of the secret places in the image. Although I work in many mediums, my work usually includes the human figure. I love light, shadow, and the way the light forms to make various shapes. It is these shapes that I focus on in my work. I repeat the positive shapes in the negative areas while trying to create a sense of rhythm. I love color, but value is more important to me. Contrast of any type excites me. With all my work that involves color, I prefer to use transparent layers rather than direct application. I decide on composition and color by doing a series of thumbnail sketches and paintings. I plan my work carefully, and although the major decisions are made before I start any piece of work, I leave room for flexibility while the work is in progress.
To see more of Linda’s work, please visit her website.
4th Place (Photography & Digital) – Mike Rozmarin – “Reflection” – digitally manipulated photography
Beauty may live within the eye of the beholder, but art resides squarely within the soul. Often it is the unexplained and disjointed visions that resonate most deeply within me, making a connection that I don’t quite understand. I am a Los Angeles based artist working in paint, digital, and photography.
To see more of Mike’s work, please visit his website.
4th Place (3 Dimensional) – Jacki Cohen – “Desert Jubilee” – glass
Translating the World into Glass Color. Vibrancy. Bold design. Translating the world into glass ignites my soul and fuels my spirit. Whether it is a crimson sunset, the cover of Vogue, or a fresh sprig of mint in a celebratory Mojito, my passion is in transforming everyday objects into innovative glass designs through sensory observation, imagination and meticulous technique.
“I’ve played in many visual media. Fused glass is the single art form that allows me unbridled creative expression.”
I love life. I wake up every morning at 5am to exercise. Whether I’m in the gym training or hiking the majestic Arizona mountains, pushing my body to perform is part of my process. As an artist, my outlook informs my approach to my work. Building physical strength, flexibility, and balance enables me to feel the power of nature and translate that vitality into glass. Plus, so many of my greatest designs are inspired by nature!
Art enriches the soul and brings light to everyone. I’ve always been impassioned to spread that luminosity through my connections to family, friends, and community. When someone relates to my vibrant outlook on life, I want them to be able to carry that energy and joy into their own home, office, or share it with friends and family.
My custom work allows me to design pieces based on a client’s unique take on the world. We can work within a specific color palette and design style to create one-of-a-kind pieces, wall hangings, installations or functional decor elements that reflect one’s individual personality and spirit. I am a juried artist in the Sonoran Arts League and the Arizona Artists Guild.
My studio door is open by appointment. Come see me and tell me your story so we can translate your world into glass.
To see more of Jacki’s work, please visit her website.
5th Place (Traditional) – Eric Moore – “Tetra-Chloro Perrywinkle” – acrylic and resin on aluminum panel
My primary focus as an artist is the innate beauty of color and its ability to affect us on a deep level. Inspired by constructs such as order, harmony, and balance, my work explores the inexplicable way color and form can communicate dynamics like this.
In my current body of work, the formal vehicle for these color explorations is the circle. I create my work by attaching custom built panels and canvases to a machine that spins the work as I paint. This allows me to use airbrushes, spray guns and paint pens to apply acrylic paint in seamless gradations and concentric color sequences that range from the calm and meditative to the lively and dramatic.
For me, my paintings are like visual melodies – simple and straightforward yet abstract and subjective, they resonate with the part of me that feels rather than thinks. Ultimately, I make art because I am deeply driven to create and share my vision of beauty with you. My goal is for you to experience the same kind of peace and joy in viewing the work as I experience when I am creating the work. By transcending our commonly held languages, I hope to create a space for direct and contemplative personal experiences that enrich your life.
The ability to make art as a career is one of the greatest privileges that life has afforded me. Thank you for your interest in my work as it is truly the lifeblood of this great privilege.
To see more of Eric’s work, please visit his website.
5th Place (Photography & Digital) – Patricia Fortlage – “The Eye” – photographic image
About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease called Myasthenia Gravis. In the beginning, it was devastating, but the doctors found a few different treatment plans that would help keep my muscles from fatiguing too quickly. This allowed me to continue my work as a female empowerment photographic long-form storyteller and fine art photographer, albeit part-time. I worked with nonprofits and NGOs mostly overseas, supporting their work to combat disease and poverty.
From the core belief that if you invest in women and girls, entire communities will be raised, I have focused much of my photography career working with organizations doing just that. From the powerful piece covering the female-led Othakarhaka Foundation in Southern Malawi to the stereotype breaking, female empowering Wonder, girl! Project, to an ongoing project depicting the often life-long after-effects of sexual assault on women, I have aim to promote female empowerment one project at a time.
When not on assignment, I like to create fine art images. I find inspiration in this refueling process (those simple breaks and beauty that allow one to keep fighting the good fight). Given an acceleration of my Myasthenia Gravis in recent years, an acceleration of the muscle fatigue, which makes long distance travel more challenging, I am turning to more and more fine art work as my primary focus… and finding the creativity to be a new kind of challenge and fulfillment.
To see more of Patricia’s work, please visit her website.
5th Place (3 Dimensional) – Sidney Miraz – “LOXOS#1a” – pastel/rag paper & museum board
Sidney Miraz was born in Giza, Egypt in 1942. Her formal art studies were in began in 1957 and through 1964/69 at the Bezalel Art School in Jerusalem, Israel. Since the late 70’s, she has participated in both group and solo shows internationally including Jerusalem, Israel, Paris, France, New York and San Diego, California in the USA. Since 1990, the media in which she works in 3-Dimensional.
To see more of Sidney’s work, please email her directly.
