Artist — Chris HynesAward — People's ChoiceDivision — CommunityMedium — OilSize — 46"x34" (36x24 canvas)Inspiration Statement — Spring is the season of rebirth and rejuvenation. This landscape was inspired by the countryside surrounding Ponca, Arkansas and features colorful flowering plants and rolling hillsides. A thunderstorm in the distance reminds us that life is full of trials and tribulations, but through God’s mercies we are refined and watched over by Him. Similarly, the storm is necessary to wash the earth and in time make all things new.
Peach Blossoms
Artist — Marty Ann SmithAward — Profesional - WinnerDivision — ProfessionalMedium — OilSize — 36"X24"Inspiration Statement — My painting represents all things new with the subject being nature. After the cold and gloomy winter, spring comes once again with new growth and excitement. The earth is renewed and flowers bloom. It’s a new start for everything and it’s God’s gift to us on earth.
Starsheep
Artist — Stephen CefaloAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — OilSize — 14"x14"Inspiration Statement — “…Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-5) This is my son at 4 years old with his “star sheet” which he mispronounced “Starsheep.” It eventually was torn into a long, knotted strip. It’s a symbol of eternal youth and the hope that we can all have it in Christ.
Transcending Cross
Artist — Tom W. TullAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — AcrylicSize — 40" X 48"Inspiration Statement — This painting has five sections of color. The blue and green represent Earth. The top right section of dark colors represents our bondage to sin. The center signifies the cross, Christ’s crucifixion, and His blood shed for us. The three textured circles represent the Trinity. The white veil of color represents God’s grace, mercy, and light upon us, making all things new.
Reflection
Artist — Linda FlakeAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — OilSize — 14 1/2"W x 23"HInspiration Statement — When Divine Intelligence created the heaven and earth, a map was included by which we could reflect His creativity. The map is called Principles and Elements and they are used to create great architecture, music, art and more. Artists use this divine legacy to execute their art regardless of the tools that are used. “I am making everything new” can be felt and understood in many meaningful and personal ways.
Calf at Rest
Artist — Bob SniderAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — OilSize — 18 x 24Inspiration Statement — What could be newer than a newborn calf? Capturing the freshness of spring, this calf is resting before testing his legs. In time, he will be jumping around with new life. In Malachi 4, there is a prophecy concerning all who “fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness.” He will “rise with healing in his wings. And we will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
New Lily
Artist — Cynthia SchaninkAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — WatercolorSize — 24 X 30"Inspiration Statement — The Easter lily has always been a flower that makes me smile and remember Jesus has risen to bring us salvation. The background is dark to show off the emergence of light on the delicate petals. Know the truth that you might have an anointing from the Holy One. (1 John 2:20)
Mysteries Revealed
Artist — Charlotte Bailey RiersonAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — WatercolorSize — 24w x 30hInspiration Statement — “Mysteries Revealed” captures a glimpse into the mysteries revealed by God to John through watercolor. In Rev. 4:3, a door opens into Heaven and there were great bursts of light like a glittering diamond or a shining ruby, and like a rainbow glowing. God proclaimed these visions would happen before Christ ushers in the new heaven and earth in All Things New.
First Morning
Artist — Amy BuchananAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — PhotographySize — 24 x 36Inspiration Statement — The first morning of eternity. Hours of the last night have passed. Darkness flees as light arises. Creation opens its eyes, shaking off death’s sleep. The horse, stepping out of weakness’ bonds, awakens to a body magnificent. Muscles, once stiff with age, move with fresh strength. Legs, long exhausted, pound with earth-covering strides. We soon, sleeping the final night, will rouse to eternity’s first dawn. A sunrise brilliant, our eyes will behold glory-filled bodies, life resurrected.
No More Tears
Artist — Jeremy EttersAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — Charcoal / GraphiteSize — 25x31Inspiration Statement — There is One who will end all of the hurt, One who will be able to do what we cannot. There will be a day when all hurt and all pain will cease to exist. No more cancer. No more children hungry. No more babies on life support. No more emergencies. No more autism. One day there will be no more tears.
“…And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
First Miracle
Artist — Heike TalbertAward — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — OilSize — 32.5 x 36.5Inspiration Statement — Just as Jesus demonstrated His divine powers as He performed the “First Miracle” (when He turned water into wine at a wedding feast,) so He will reveal His power when He returns to restore and “make everything new.” (Rev. 21:1-5)
Please Be Patient with Me, God is Not Through with Me Yet
Artist — Bryan Winfred Massey, Sr.Award — Profesional - Top 10Division — ProfessionalMedium — SculptureSize — 23" x 6" x 6"Inspiration Statement — When God created man, He created him as a “free moral being” to decide for himself whether or not to serve Him. He creates us, but leaves a void in our human spirit. Some choose sex, alcohol, drugs, money, or other material things to fill that emptiness that we all experience and want to fill. HE wants us to fill that void with Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone.”
Waiting for Spring
Artist — Debbie StrobelAward — Community - WinnerDivision — CommunityMedium — PastelSize — 24" x 28"Inspiration Statement — God has woven His story into nature through the seasons and their changes. Just as the trees appear to “die” in the winter but are gloriously reborn in the spring, so we can be spiritually reborn. Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” The trees appear dead and lifeless, but inside of them is the potential for new life, even though we cannot see it. In the same way each of us has the opportunity to experience a new birth in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:8
Artist — Jay NewmanAward — Community - Top 10Division — CommunityMedium — OilSize — 2 panels of 5' x 2' eachInspiration Statement — Resurrection is the mechanism of Re-creation. The hope we have for all things to be made new is the hope that our physical bodies will be reunited with Christ. If we are crucified with Christ, then we will be resurrected with Christ. This hope is displayed in a personal manner in this painting, as I mixed in the dirt from my brother’s grave with the oil paints. The hope for all things new is more than intellectual speculation on the afterlife for me – it is a desperate plea for resurrection.
New
Artist — David D. WilsonAward — Community - Top 10Division — CommunityMedium — OilSize — 60" x 84"Inspiration Statement — If honest with themselves, every person at their core longs for joy, peace and contentment. These can only truly be collectively experienced as a result of trust in, love of, and surrender to our Holy God. My hope is that all this can all be seen—trust, love, surrender, joy, peace, contentment—in this depicted moment representing a pure, fresh new life in Christ. (II Corinthians 5:17)
