First Place

All Clear at the Approach Corner
acrylic

by Joey Hernandez, an independent artist from Garden Grove, CA

Coming in First Place in the 2-Dimensional Category is Joey Hernandez, an independent artist from Garden Grove, CA, for “All Clear at the Approach Corner.”

A canvas that measures 30 by 30 by 1 inch, at the corner of Santa Ana and Monterey street, four individuals meet. Well-kept landscaping of bushes and trees decorate the yards next to the curb. A single car is parked facing east on Santa Ana, close to the stop sign across the street from a large red roofed building. A chill is in the air on this sunny day, everyone sporting long sleeves and pants. The two individuals in the center face away from the audience north toward the crosswalk, checking for clearance before crossing. The leftmost person is out for a stroll with a white cane in hand. Lugging a blue backpack and a blue folder, the individual on the right is possibly on the way to class. They are flanked by two other individuals both showing right profiles. Possibly attending classes as well, the individual on their right carries a black backpack and a purple folder in hand. Wearing a shoulder strapped satchel and yellow hat, the person on their left moves east toward the Monterey crosswalk. Whether attending lectures or running errands everyone is safe and clear to cross the street to their next adventures. 

Second Place – Tie

Dog Days of Summer
acrylics on wood

by Amanda Stephens, an independent artist from Groton, MA

Coming in Second Place in the 2-Dimensional Category is Amanda Stephens, an independent artist from Groton, MA, for “Dog Days of Summer.”

Measuring 20 by 16 inches, this acrylic on wood artwork depicts a serene day at the lake, gentle waves lap against the side of the green boat moving smoothly through the water. A vastly wooded area forms at the shore, running along the top of the piece, the shoreline’s reflection mirrored in the calm lake waters. The tree line is green, perhaps indicating that it is a nice summer day. In the center of it all is a smiling black Labrador snuggled into a large orange blanket in the back of the boat. A red life vest is draped around the dog’s neck, its fur hanging over the life vest ever so slightly. Mouth open and eyes sparkling with excitement, the dog stares off to the right, out into the distance, ready for an adventure, or a dip in the refreshing lake waters. 

Second Place – Tie

Emerged in Tranquility
acrylic

by Nora Delabat, an adult artist at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, in Miami, FL

Coming in Second Place in the 2-Dimensional Category is Nora Delabat, an adult artist from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in Miami, FL, for “Emerged in Tranquility.”

Measuring 48 by 24 by 1⁄2 an inch, blue eyes under blue shaded lids look slightly left out of the frame. A feminine figure appears, shoulders relaxed and mouth neutral, taking in all her environment encapsulates. Her hair flows out like the waves of the water. It starts from her scalp dark in color like the depths of the sea and changes to greens of algae, whites of seafoam, and reds of coral being pulled away by the water’s current. Bubbles dance along the strands. Starfish and mollusks slide down her locks to join more sea creatures to either side.

Two algae plants bloom from the bottom left corner. Joined by a purple starfish, a spotted orange conch shell and a brightly colored orange and pink mollusk shell. All float under a red sailboat rolling on the waves above. An opened mouth fish dominates the left side of the piece. Its orange scales and multicolored tail flutter above the waterline. Swimming below are two mollusk shells, orange and purple, an orange starfish, and another fish. This fish swims deep on the page, its red eye staring out from the smooth beige face. Purple spots dot yellow fins against its orange form, all tapering into a rainbow tail. This woman is bathing directly in the midst of a sea of tranquility. 

Second Place – Tie

SEE Shark
acrylic, mixed media

by Adult Artists at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in Miami, FL

Coming in Second Place in the 2-Dimensional Category is adult artists from the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Mr. Aaron Hill’s class in Miami, FL for “SEE Shark.”

Measuring 48 by 48 by 1 ½ inches, a curious shark swims by, wearing a stylish pair of glasses! The eye that faces the audience is popping off the canvas in surprise, mouth slightly open, not sure if he is observing predator or prey. Otherwise, he is at home in his undersea landscape. Multicolored and shaped seashells line the bottom of the seabed. The shells move in a wave as the blue pebbles atop them move with the undulating currents of the water. A white cane lays sticking up from the ocean floor, caught comfortably in the left fin of the shark. Schools of smaller fish swim quickly behind the shark, hoping not to draw its attention. Through all the movement bubbles form sporadically around. Some bubbles pop off the page and others are jeweled making them dance in the light reflected in the water. 

Third Place

I Remember the Smell of the Environment
acrylic

by Jesus Valdes, an adult artist at from the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in Sands Point, NY

Third Place in the 2-Dimensional Category is Jesus Valdes, an adult artist from the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in Sands Point, NY for “I Remember the Smell of the Environment.”

This canvas measures 18 by 20 inches, depicting perhaps a tranquil scene. A red roofed house sits at the top right of the piece, gazing out over a beachy shore. Waves flow up from the bottom left, commanding the canvas as they crash against a golden, sandy shore and dark overgrowth off to the right. The texture in the brush strokes gives the water life, as though the viewer can almost hear the ebb and flow of current on the shore. The house stands at varying levels, pulling itself high above sea level, with a flat garden area to its left side. It sits nestled in luscious greenery that plants itself along the remainder of the canvas. Bushes and trees dot the countryside, rising higher and higher; only a small portion of the cloudy sky can be seen coming through at the very top of the piece. The red roofed home is most certainly enjoying the wonders of its surrounding nature.

Visioneer Award

Autumn in Harmony
acrylic

by Diane Krek, an independent artist from Canonsburg, PA

A Visioneer Award in the 2-Dimensional Category is Diane Krek, an independent artist from Canonsburg, PA for “Autumn in Harmony.”

This canvas measures 28 by 31 by inch, depicting vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and greens that pepper the wooded background. Tall trees in full autumn regalia are clustered so tightly together, even the sky cannot be seen through the branches until the very top. A clouded blue sky hangs over the scene and standing in the center of it all is a gray stone lighthouse. The lighthouse reaches almost as high as the tallest tree but not quite! Its black metal dome houses the beacon at the top with a metal railing. A small cottage sits directly behind, sharing the same gray coloring and black roofing. In front of the lighthouse sits a well for drawing water, covered by a small wooden awning with white wooden sides and brown roof. The wind is blowing briskly as we can see by the American flag waving its star and stripes in the breeze, just to the left of both structures. This artist perfectly encapsulates the serenity of an autumn moment, captured between the breeze and the trees of a brisk day.