2023 Jurors

2023 AWARDS AND JURORS

2023 EXHIBITION AWARDS

Over $3,000 in cash awards will be given in 3 categories: Professional, Intermediate, Novice for both the Exhibition as well as the Quick Draw competitions.

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Professional 1st Place: Jill McGannon "A Day on the Lake," oil on canvas, $700 Award
Professional 2nd Place: Munir Kapasi "Moonlit Lake Windward," oil on linen, $500 Award
Professional 3rd Place: Mali Regan "Alpharetta Market Day," oil on linen, $300 Award
Honorable Mention: Ed Cahill "Paint the Town!" oil, $100 BLICK Gift Certificate

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY
Intermediate 1st Place: John Firth "Mansel," oil, $300 Award
Intermediate 2nd Place: Renilda Blair "City Hall on the Rocks," acrylic, $200 Award
Intermediate 3rd Place: Kim O'Brien "Pathway in May," oil on panel, $100 Award
Honorable Mention: Monika Gupta "Koi Pond," pastel, $50 Binders Gift Certificate

NOVICE CATEGORY
Novice 1st Place: Liz Hanfelt "Doors at Avalon," watercolor, $100 Blick Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for Art Class at the Arts Center
Novice 2nd Place: Maryia Arlova "Joy's Rose Garden," acrylic on canvas, $50 Binders Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for Art Class at the Arts Center
Novice 3rd Place: Jennifer Pinter "Vines After Time," ink and watercolor, $50 Binders Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for Art Class at the Arts Center

2023 QUICK DRAW AWARDS

The 2023 "Quick Draw" competition was held on Friday, May 12th. Artists completed their pieces in two hours (from 4:30-6:30 PM) and then presented for judging at the Alpharetta Arts Center for a special Awards Ceremony.

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY:
1st Place: Stephanie Amato "3 Amigos," oil on linen, $250 Award
2nd Place: Dana Enders "Fountain of Youth," pastel, $200 Award
3rd Place: Kevin Kurz "Koi Pond," oil on canvas, $150 Award

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY:
1st Place: Ken Breirer "Mill Creek Fisherman," oil, $100 Award
2nd Place: Lamar Gilstrap "A Bit of Light," oil, $75 Award
3rd Place: David Schroeder "Lightning Strikes at Big Creek," acrylic, $50 Award

NOVICE CATEGORY:
1st Place: Maryia Arlova "The Garden Goddess," acrylic onf canvas, $100 BLICK Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for a class at the Alpharetta Arts Center
2nd Place: Cyndi Walker "City Square," watercolor, $50 Binders Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for a class at the Alpharetta Arts Center
3rd Place: Howard Elj Untitled, acrylic, $50 Binders Gift Certificate, $50 Gift Card for a class at the Alpharetta Arts Center.

QUICK DRAW JUROR: JOHN HIPES

John is serving his second term as an Alpharetta City Councilman and is the liaison to the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Department.

John has practiced law for 35 years in the Atlanta area and in 2013 he founded the law firm Hipes & Belle Isle, LLC in Alpharetta, Georgia. John’s primary area of law practice is business litigation.

John Hipes is originally from Indiana. He received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 1981 and his law degree from Georgia State College of Law in 1988.
John is an active member of the community and Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. Over the years he has participated in many mission trips to Central America, South America and Africa. John and his wife Karen live in downtown Alpharetta. They have four adult children, five beautiful grandchildren, and a very friendly Papillon named Murphy.

EXHIBITION JUROR: STEPHANIE AMATO

Stephanie was born and raised on Long Island, NY. Choosing computer programming as her first career, her passion for drawing and painting prompted her to pursue an education in Visual Art. She entered the Illustration program at Parson’s School of Design, continuing at the Art Students League and the New York Academy. She later moved to New Jersey obtaining a degree as a Graphic Designer and established the graphic design firm SMA Designs.

She has participated in many local and national exhibitions, is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Signature Member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey and a Resident Member of the Salmagundi Club. Stephanie’s work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, American Artist and American Art Collector magazines.

“Working in oils, I paint impressionistic landscapes, floral and figurative compositions. My intention is to produce work which creates energy and movement that will resonate with the viewer.”

Stephanie currently resides in Milton, Georgia working both in her studio and outdoors on location. Her work can be seen through many fine galleries along the east coast.