“Fall Thought” - State Award

“I make art as an expression of self and place -  To explore new worlds without words.”

“Wolf #5” - State Award

“Creating is good for me and I can’t help doing it. It is something I’ve always done but later in life I began painting. I’ve created with food, fabric, clay, embroidery, wool, and now with all kinds of paints. Watercolor is my favorite and I love teaching others by showing them that hey can create too. Art is so good for the soul.”

“Amnesia” - Honorable Mention

“I am an artist and a scientist. My work is highly exploratory in terms of both media and subject matter. I often combine watercolor, inks, iridescent particles, graphite, chalk and acrylic gesso in my work. My art pieces frequently include both abstract and figurative (sometimes symbolic) elements. I explore the human nature in-context, in my work, and view my art as a tool to freely express myself and promote inclusion and diversity.”

“Blue Hair and Pronouns” - Honorable Mention

Megan Forsythe recently restarted her passion for art after a short hiatus of 20+ years, but really who's counting? She was raised in the Midwest and briefly attended and dropped out of a graphics program at community college. Megan primarily enjoys painting with acrylic but also works with mixed media, collage, and digital. She explores themes of human rights, spirituality, and personal growth. Megan's use of saturated color, bold line, and humor are found throughout her work. Megan currently resides in Stoughton, Wisconsin with her spouse and two teenage children.

“Carver’s Rock Reflections” - State Award

“It’s important that I really like my subject, so a lot of my paintings are of people I know or places I’ve been. The experience of recreating what I see on canvas, is exciting and challenging for me and makes each time I paint a memorable experience.”

“I am Sylvia Hall Linton, a native Wisconsinite and retired college librarian who now lives in Whitewater. I believe all of us are engaged in a lifelong process of creating the person we choose to be, and art is my way of doing so -- but because I’m never sure of who I would choose to be, I try everything that sparks my interest, hoping the process itself will reveal what the image wants to be. In this show, I have put aside my usual watercolors and alcohol inks and tried entirely new ways of making art. If I had to sum up my life as an artist, I would have to say,”

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams, in The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul

Visit my online gallery of art: www.Luminousfrog.com;
Email: Luminousfrog@gmail.com

“Brandy and Tiny” - Honorable Mention

“Art is fun and decorates my house.”

“This work is called "The Sands of Childhood."

It was made in remembrance of my children growing up on our farm outside Whitewater. It includes mementos of their childhood, their games, their enjoyment of being outside and part of nature. They enjoyed turtles and butterflies so the painting includes broken turtle skeletons and scales, with a butterfly from summers past. I also asked nature to help me with the artwork so I set it on our front porch for a year to let the paper change and the spiders cover it with webs.

My artwork always tells stories about life and the continual changes of our experiences. Whether I'm writing books, weaving, meditating, or working as a psychologist, my life always teaches me more through the stories I live each day. Stories give our life meaning and bring us together as a human community. Keep track of your stories and share them with others.”

Rick Santovec is an emerging “Outsider” mixed media artist who is creating contemporary art with a message.   While focusing on political and social justice issues Santovec attempts to engage his art viewers in open ended discussions on serious topics.

Without a formal art training, Santovec has developed his own unique style as he explores: race, politics, gender assignments, COVID-19, and even the very nature of what it means to be human.

Santovec makes no claims to have any answers in his art, but he has questions. So many questions…

Santovec is also noted for the Floral Photography available on his website.   www.rick-santovec.fineartamerica.com


Rick Santovec / The Artist known as Weasel

“Pink” - State Award

“After many years developing artist statement statements, I have decided to follow David Vestal’s advice. ‘No Plan’."

“The terrible violent destruction of children and adult lives in recent years at schools and other public places is a national tragedy, a nation’s shame. Parts of America’s population don’t seem to care. They say guns are not the problem, its the people who are the problem. Why does anyone need a semi automatic weapon in a civilaztion? We are not tribes—we are together in this precious moment of time.”

“Autumn Leaves” - Honorable Mention

Laura Strehlow was introduced to art very early in life by her talented mother who frequently designed and created sets for events at their church. Having witnessed the creation process, art became a natural way of seeing and expressing things for Laura. Throughout school, art and literature were always Laura’s favorite classes. So, it was no surprise to her family when Laura graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in visual communications. However, job opportunities were scarce in her local market, and Laura joined the corporate ranks to pay the bills. Her love of creating art got aside while tending to family life. Decades later, she picked up her brushes and is once again pursuing her creative passions.

Acrylics, oil pastels, and watercolors are the essentials that Laura works with, but nothing is outside the bounds for use in her artwork. Beads, paper, yarn, or any found object could be used in Laura’s artwork. The pieces that Laura has on display demonstrate this principle.

Laura prefers an expressionistic style, using vibrant colors to convey the delight that she has always found in the amazing diversity of nature. This focus on nature, which started early in life, reflects a commitment to ecology and finding new ways to reuse things that would otherwise end up in a landfill. “I like to think of my art as transformative, both in process and in purpose,” said Laura. 

“My name is John Yost and I currently work out of a studio in my home in Waukesha, WI. My past life included the management of an Architectural/Engineering firm from 1990 to 1999. In 1999, I started my own Architectural firm and operated it until 2018 when I officially closed the firm and retired. It was on a snow bird trip to Key Largo Florida around 2016 that I started painting. It was at this time I realized I enjoyed painting and decided to pursue additional knowledge and experience in painting as an artist. I believe that all artists have something inside them that leads them to create pieces of art that an individual and the public in general will enjoy.

“I do not have a degree in art, my education has come, from self-study through online courses and books along with painting and repainting until I reach a painting that I am comfortable with. I usually think 2-3 paintings out of ten are good and I am happy with their look. I primarily work with acrylic paint on canvas or hard board.

“My artistic philosophy is, I am a realistic painter but not to the extent that my painting are photographic copies of the subject. My realism is that the subject of the painting looks like the real subject rather than being stylized or abstracted. I use a painterly style. I do not try to hide what I used to create the painting. I use textures, brush marks and pallet knife along with colors to enhance the appearance and appeal of my paintings. You will see in my paintings the color pallet I use in most cases is a bright and forceful mix. It is my goal for the viewer to see my paintings and have them create a stamp on their minds eye that will be remembered.”