Golembeski, Nistler, Weller and Turner Named PaintAmerica Mini Top50 Jurors Award Winners!

In addition to Dean Mitchell's Grand Prize Purchase Award, the following artists have been named Jurors Award Winners in the 2009 PaintAmerica Mini Top50...

Don Weller of Oakley, UT was named the Kaye Franklin Jurors Award Winner. His watercolor painting, titled "Checkers" was chosen by Franklin. His western art has illustrated many books, magazines and posters and his work can be seen at www.donweller.com Don has been a frequent winner in past PaintAmerica shows.

The Jim Bruce Jurors Award went to Beverly Golembeski of Seaside Park, NJ. Beverly's painting was titled "Ocean Wave." Beverly is a PaintAmerica Master Society Artist and has been included in several previous PaintAmerica shows. More of her work can be seen at www.watercolorsbybeverly.com

Eileen Nistler of Upton, WY was named the Debra Groesser Jurors Award Winner for her painting, "Maura in Pink." Nistler has had many appearances in a PaintAmerica competitions, and has won several previous Jurors Awards. She is also a PaintAmerica Master Society Artist. Her website is www.eileennistler.com

Kathryn Mapes Turner of Jackson, WY was awarded the Airfloat Systems Award for her oil painting entitled "Jefferson Memorial." This was Turner's first appearance in a PaintAmerica Top100 show. Her work can be seen at www.turnerfineart.com Airfloat Systems are suppliers of the Airfloat Strongbox, the preferred art shipping containers, and have donated a gift certificate for Airfloat Products for their award.

Thanks again to our jurors, Jim Bruce, Deb Groesser and Kaye Franklin for their tremendous contributions to this wonderful show.

Embry, Farabaugh, Yarnell and Richardson win 2009 PaintAmerica Top100 Jurors Awards!

In addition to Ruo Li's Grand Prize Purchase Award, the following artists have been named Jurors Award Winners in the 2009 PaintAmerica Top100...

Evelyn Embry of Richford, NY was named the Kaye Franklin Jurors Award Winner. Her oil painting, titled "Portrait of Wayne Frank" was chosen by Franklin. Evelyn is one of the country's most prominent portrait painters and her work can be seen at www.evelynembry.com

The Jim Bruce Jurors Award went to Joseph Yarnell of Skiatook, OK. Yarnell's painting was titled "Homeward Bound" and featured Canadian Geese resting during their migration. Yarnell has been included in several previous PaintAmerica shows.

Sheri Farabaugh of Thornton, CO was named the Debra Groesser Jurors Award Winner for her painting, "Running the Rapids." This was Farabaugh's first appearance in a PaintAmerica competition.

Johne Richardson of Overland Park, KS was awarded the Airfloat Systems Award for his watercolor work entitled "Wash Day." Richardson's work has been included in every PaintAmerica Top100 show since its inception. He was also the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 show. Airfloat Systems are suppliers of the Airfloat Strongbox, the preferred art shipping containers, and have donated a gift certificate for Airfloat Products for their award.

Thanks again to our jurors, Jim Bruce, Deb Groesser and Kaye Franklin for their tremendous contributions to this wonderful show.

Ruo Li and Dean Mitchell Claim Top Honors in 2009 PaintAmerica Top100!

Ruo Li, of Arcadia, California has been chosen as the $7,500 Grand Prize Purchase Award Winner in the 2009 PaintAmerica Top100, for his seascape painting entitled "The Hopeful." Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Florida was named the $2,500 Grand Prize Purchase Award Winner in the Mini division for his watercolor portrait, "Buffalo Soldier."

This year's competition was juried by three nationally recognized artists - Jim Bruce, Deb Groesser, and Kaye Franklin. The two top awards were scored the highest among several hundred entries nationwide.

Ruo Li has had work accepted into previous PaintAmerica shows, including Region II Winner in the 2007 Paint the Parks show. Li has been living in California since coming to the US in 1989. He has won many top awards for his work, mostly depicting west coast seascapes.

Dean Mitchell is one of the top watercolor artists in the country. His work work has won hundreds of awards, including first prize at the T.H. Saunders International Artist and Watercolour Show in London, the Hubbard Art Award for Excellence, and the Gold Medal of Honor from the American Watercolor Society.

Paint the Parks Show at South Florida Fair!

Over 700,000 people are expected to go through the gates of the South Florida State Fair in West Palm Beach, Florida where the 2009 Paint the Parks100 is currently being exhibited. The exhibit is located in the Expo Center, where the focus of this year's fair centers on America's National Parks. Following the close of the fair on January 31st, the exhibit will move to the Bink Glisson Museum on the fairgrounds until its close on March 1st.

The current tour started at the Kolb Studio, Grand Canyon, Arizona. From there, it drew good crowds at the Old Courthouse Gallery in St. Louis. Following the South Florida Fair, the show will head north to Hammond, Indiana at the Indiana Welcome Center, just south of Chicago. The tour will finish at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka, Kansas.