The word 'illustration' is often thought of a dirty word in the fine art scene, which I've always found perplexing. To me, commercial illustrators are some of the most talented artists in the world. So it's very nice to see high fantasy art (complete with dragons in some cases!), receive such notoriety along side traditional portraiture and still lives.
I have no doubt I'll miss a few, but just some of the Illustrators to take home awards include:
Donato Giancola
1st Place: Most Ambitious Work
Julie Bell
1st Place: Animal Category
Sam Burley
Most Creative Work
David Palumbo
Finalist: Figure Category
Don Maitz
Finalist: Figure Category
Howard Lyon
Finalist: Figure Category
Heather Theurer
Finalist: Figure Category
Patrick Jones
Finalist: Figure Category
Thomas Kuebler
Finalist: Sculpture Category
James Gurney
Finalist: Animal Category
There are, of course, a TON of other amazing and well deserving works. I highly recommend you go take a look at them at The Art Renewal Center's website. Be sure to click on each piece, as most of them have extremely hi-rez scans for your perusal.
Congratulations on all winners and especially Donato whose beautiful 'Joan' mesmerized me at a first glance... and it seems I`m not the only one! Keep up the great work, guys! Commercial or not, high-quality art is still high-quality art.
ReplyDeleteIllustration beeing seen as something "dirty" by fine art ?
ReplyDeleteThat would indeed be strange. Especially looking at these extremely high class works, I doubt that there are many "fine artists" out there who could do the same.
Btw, thats the first time I hear from this contest. I'm not soselfconfident as to participate in it, but that sure seems like a good goal for the future. ^^
Ah, am I wrong when I say that most of these pieces were done on a rather big scale ?
Great art at its finest. Every piece is great, but as an animal illustrator I especially love the wolfs. ^^
ReplyDeleteOmg, some of the works are so kitsch.
ReplyDeleteBut not an Odd Nerdrum kitsch. No.
It's the tasteless one.
Congratz Donato :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work! This is great news for the genre. I also noticed Thomas Kuebler is a finalist in the Sculpture category.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.artrenewal.org/pages/salon_winners.php?contest=2011-2012%20Salon&page=Sculpture
Congratulations to all the award winners:)
Thanks for that. I missed the whole category. Found Gurney too.
DeleteWooo Hooooo!!! Congratulations on well deserved awards!!!
ReplyDeleteBars being raised, grats to everyone!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Donato!
ReplyDelete