The Overall Winning Artists Category consists of the 10 Best Entries received from the 3 media categories of the Painting & Other Category, Photography & Digital Category and the 3 Dimensional Art categories. 

The winning artists will now be featured on the Light Space & Time website for the month of September 2019 and thereafter, the artworks and links to the artist’s websites will remain online in the Light Space & Time Archives.

The overall winning artists’ category of the 9th Annual "Open" Art Exhibition will receive extensive worldwide publicity and promotion. In addition, the overall winning artists will also receive extensive worldwide publicity in the form of email marketing, 550+ press release announcements, event announcement posts and social media marketing. 

Winning artists will also have their art exhibition results posted and promoted on ArtJobs/ArtWeek. Artweek/Artjobs produces 800,000 page impressions per month, 280,000 website visitors per month and has 30,000 newsletter subscribers.  

Congratulations to our artists who made our 9th Annual “Open” Art Exhibition so successful this month. At any time, we invite our winners and other interested visitors to link their websites to the Gallery’s Archive section for further ongoing promotion.

The Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery will have digital “Open” Award Certificates, Event Postcard, and Press Releases sent to the winning artists within the next week or so. Thank you to all of the artists who participated and for being a part of the gallery. To return to the “Open” Home Page click here.

1st Place – Christine Columbo – “Summer”

As a child Christine was artistically inclined, learning how to draw before she learned how to read. Her artistic father gave her lessons starting at 5 years old after noticing she did not draw like other children, but rather with the focus and concentration of a trained artist drawing from life.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in Art from the State College of New Jersey, she went on to get a computer programming degree, and then a master’s degree from NYU in business and philosophy. During her subsequent career years, she worked in New York City as a computer graphic artist, programmer and financial consultant.

Hoping her academic studies and New York City lifestyle and career would create a life of happiness, she was surprised to find a very different calling in 1996, at the age of 35. Following her heart, she “walked out of her life” and for the next 19 years she lived as a monastic, training under a Hindu master whom she lived with for much of this time.

In 2010, she emerged from this cycle a completely different being, and spent the next 5 years integrating her new perspective and experience of life as an opportunity to live in love and with compassion for all beings. In 2016 came a profound deepening of her awakened state, at which time she moved to a monastery in Crestone, Colorado. For the next two years she stayed in retreat. It was during this time she began drawing and painting again. In 2017 Christine received 13 awards for her paintings done during this same year.

Reflecting on her life, Christine has said, “For much of my life although it appeared I had achieved success, I didn’t feel my life had purpose. This led to my monastic journey, meditation, service and eventually a journey into the depths of my own heart. At the end of my 19 years as a monastic, and spiritual practitioner it was as if nothing had happened and everything had happened. I appeared the same but the lens through which I viewed the world was completely different. My heart was open and filled with love and my paintings are how I try to capture the beauty I experience all around.”

Christine’s website is: www.christinecolumbo.com    

2nd Place – George Ann Johnson – “Race Ready”

I am a realist artist. My work is an effort to embody the three entities of Life: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual. Every piece is an adventure into understanding the animal in which I am drawing. Physically, I have a strong passion for texture. The challenge of producing multiple, different, and complimentary textures within a piece of art is always a goal in my work. Through this approach, I focus on the detail of scale. That is, my work is capable of being appreciated at any viewing level – from across the room to under a magnifying glass – I want my work to radiate clarity at all levels of perspective. Finally, the ultimate goal of my work is to have my subjects speak to the viewer. This is accomplished through the subject’s eyes. The goal of every piece is to have the spirit of the subject speak and captivate the viewer, and if possible, understand the subject in a new and different light.

George Ann’s website is: www.gajart.com     

3rd Place – Sheri Emerson – “Warrior”

Sheri has been a photographer her entire life, from a child snapping pictures with her 110 camera, to her first SLR, and finally into the digital world. She also has been an artist her entire life, winning her first art competition at the grand old age of five. In the past few years, she has intensively studied both Photoshop and Lightroom to learn how to enhance her photography and turn it into digital art. She has been published in “Living the Photo Artistic Life” magazine, “Photoshop Creative UK” magazine, “Conceptual Images” magazine, “A5 Magazine”, “MagazineGSPDigital”, and “Fine Eye Magazine” for fine art photography. She was recently named a finalist in the Photographer’s Forum 38th Annual Spring Photography Competition and was one of 40 artists selected to participate in a year-long exhibition celebrating ACLU of Arizona’s 60th Anniversary. She has placed in the top ten in seven Light, Space and Time competitions, has received several “Best in Show” awards, placed second in the SINWP “Creatures Great and Small” competition and earned a Gold Award in their member competitions, has earned a Best in Show and won a Solo Artist Showcase on FusionArt, and has been exhibited at galleries in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona and Greece. Sheri splits her time between Arizona and Labrador, Canada, and is dedicating herself to pushing her photography and digital art even further.

Sheri’s website is: www.sheriemerson.com   

4th Place – Thalie B. Vernet – “Libertad”

Biography: Thalie B. Vernet’s childhood in the French nobility was a bruising one under the tutelage of her career military father and her submissive mother. Her education was classical. Her relationship with her father was difficult from the beginning. Her artistic nature and his military one were perpetually at odds.

She was a studious child but Thalie’s creativity was frowned upon so she read books in secret and wrote poems that baffled her father. She felt stifled. Her older siblings left the house as soon as they could, abandoning Thalie to her parents.

She only became free with the death of her father when she was 23. She moved to Argentina for four years returning to France at age 27. She moved to Paris and fully committed herself to photography.

Through her photos she translates living with her father, the unspoken… She relates to the outcasts of society, homosexuals, abused women… At the same time, she has succeeded in the man’s world of business building a real estate portfolio. She is proud of what she has done. A revenge on life.

She lives near Paris in an old mill that dates from the Middle Ages among animals and surrounded by friends.

Artist Statement: An accomplished artist, actress, lover of books, animals and nature, Thalie B.Vernet long strolled the world of the arts without positioning herself. In 1992, at the suggestion of a photographer friend, she turned to photography and discovered her passion.

Each of Thalie’s photographs samples her days. She reworks her photographs like paintings until she achieves the pure emotion of their original concept. Thalie uses the overall look of a photograph and her intimacy with her models to transmit the emotion she seeks. Her sensibilities give life to her photographs.

A feminine and elegant woman, Thalie is unafraid to express her masculine side in the man’s world in which she takes part as an artist – nor does she spurn darkness. Her work freely explores themes of anger, indignation and sorrow. Her photographs are the reflections of a divided and tortured soul. Thalie B.Vernet emancipates taboos.

 Thalie’s website is: www.thalie-b-vernet.com  

5th Place – Dan Pyle – “Entering Palm Springs”

Dan was born in Montana, grew up in Washington State and now lives in California. With virtually no formal art training, Dan has been drawing since childhood. His internationally award-winning charcoal drawings has been exhibited in gallery shows in Palm Springs, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Ana, Pasadena, Long Beach, New York, Provincetown and West Hollywood. Dan is also now represented in Europe and travels there yearly for live shows. With his client base extending as far away as Malaysia and Australia his work is becoming known worldwide.

Dan’s work is permanently installed in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, as part of their impressive commercial art collection and he participated in the epic Art Takes Times Square event in New York City. His drawings have also been published in numerous art magazines & books, both domestically and internationally.

Working exclusively in charcoal, Dan uses a realistic style that mimics photography to the point that his drawings are often mistaken for photos. He loves shadows, contrast, anonymity and using negative space in his compositions. Dan’s gifted eye catches timeless fragments of life in his work---whether it’s the intricate lines of the human hand, the delicate folds of a garment, or a tarnished piece of silver, they are drawn in detailed simplicity. Dan’s work celebrates his relentless enthusiasm for detail, through a vast collection of subject matter. From muscular figures, to distressed objects from the past, he continues to challenge perfection.

Dan’s website is: www.danpyleartist.com   

6th Place – Hyun Ho Hwang – “Zero”

My name is HyunHo Hwang and I've been drawing, painting, sculpturing and designing over 30years of my life. I've taught university students in Art University in South Korea. I currently live in Sydney, Australia and run an Art Studio where I teach students. Although I've been teaching the students until now, I want to challenge myself to express my own artwork to an audience.

ZERO Glow is the beginning of darkness or the beginning of brightness. This portrays conflict, as these two movements coexist. If one of these two movements aren’t shown, there can’t be another one and lots of things happen between them. Only when the various forms of life coexist and diversity is respected, this beautiful balance can be achieved and you and I can go together as beautiful companions on this earth. You are on that side, so I do not lean on the other, so I live together. I believe that coexistence does not end when you fail, but ends when you give up.

Hyun’s website is: www.aceartedu.com   

7th Place – John Manno – “Door Number 3”

John Manno attended Boston University studying film and photography, graduating in 1973 with a BA degree. After graduation, he moved to New York City where he assisted several commercial photographers before embarking on his own career in 1977 where he made memorable images for design studios, magazines and advertising agencies. For four decades, working from his studio in the Flatiron District, John’s work for high profile clients has been seen in some of the world’s most prestigious publications. While working in the commercial field John never lost sight of his art, constantly and consistently creating photographs for his own aesthetic satisfaction. Primarily a still life photographer, his art photos are mostly of this genre. His body of work presented here called Misbegotten Places continues in that vein, being a series of still life photos of dioramas created in turn from other photographs. His art takes him into a world that at first sight appears to exist, but then reveals itself to deviate from reality and enter a world of fantasies. Façades, windows, doors and columns all appear as they might in a real world, but their ultimate construct is false. The architectural elements have been assembled and paired with objects in order to alter reality. Painstakingly built, these still life images reflect places and scenes which exist only in the artist’s imagination. John’s inspiration comes from many sources: elaborate opera sets, surrealist painters, photographers who work in the medium of miniatures, and his own intense desire to create alternative realities. In the past year alone, his work has been exhibited in over 20 juried group shows around the country

John’s website: www.johnmanno.com     

8th Place – Julie Powell - "Twine & Scissors”

Creating unique and distinctive still life images, moving beyond the realm of simple photography. Julie Powell creates surreal, whimsical and fantastical works of Art, by Light painting her images with special LED torches. Born in Melbourne and living there her whole life, surrounded by a vibrant and exciting art community.

While not classically trained, she is mostly self-taught with a background in graphic art and design, Julie has transitioned from more traditional art forms to the digital art medium, often depicting images in her own unique painterly style. Being published both online and in print, Julie is a regular contributor to various magazines. As an Artistic Coach and Educator, Julie thrives on helping and encouraging other emerging digital artists and is widely active and respected throughout the digital artist community.

Julie’s website is: www.juliepowellphoto.com   

9th Place – Murray William Cole Ince - "Winkle Street”

I was born in Newport in 1957. On the whole, I enjoyed school and of course my favourite subject was always art. I became a furniture maker and gradually moved into designing and manufacturing so I was always drawing and painting furniture designs. I took up painting seriously, though not full time in the early 1990’s and in 1996 I decided to do an A level Art and Design at the local college to get a taste of structured art learning. In 1997 did a teaching qualification. I love to teach people to draw and paint and have tutored classes at the Isle of Wight College. I take students for private tuition in my home studio, demonstrate for art groups, have run painting experiences for Warner Leisure and currently tutor The 5 Bells Art Group and the ‘John Finch Art Group’ here on the Isle of Wight.

I am a ‘Leader’ for HF Holidays, running painting and drawing holidays all over Britain as well as other painting holidays in Britain, France and Italy. My first love is Landscape painting in Winsor and Newton’s ‘Artisan’ water-mixable oils; I have written a book titled ‘Landscape Painting In ‘Artisan’ Water-Mixable Oils’ and am a featured artist and product ambassador for Winsor and Newton. I regularly write ‘How To’ paint articles for ‘Leisure Painter’ and the SAA’s ‘Paint’ magazines.

I regularly exhibit on the Isle of Wight and southern England and always have a painting on the go. I get a buzz every time I pick up a pencil or my brushes. I am never stuck for ideas or inspiration and always have at least a dozen paintings waiting to be done. The next painting is always just around the corner and, who knows, maybe one day a masterpiece! Most of all though I enjoy teaching and showing students that painting can be a lot less daunting than they imagine, to witness the enthusiasm in creating a piece of art that they are proud of is simply magical!

Murray’s website is: www.murrayince.com   

10th Place – August Naude - "On Guard”

After retirement from a successful career in the ICT world, August quickly discovered his immense passion for artistic photography, digital art and low key & grunge photography. Therefore, it was no surprise when he joined the various training programmes of the “father of digital art”, the famous Sebastian Michaels based in Arizona (USA) who has influenced the artwork of August to a large extent. August also graduated at the New York Institute of Photography with distinction, specializing in Intense Portrait Photography.

August almost got molded in a record time, becoming a master in low key studio work, grunge photo art as well as full blast digital art and artistic photography. He was selected as one of Photoshop Artistry’s international Top-500 which is called “Kaizen” and this group of top digital artists produce the most magical works of art. His work has been published in over 30 international publications all over the globe of which the latest was a full-blown biography of him in the Austrian based Fine Eye Magazine.

During his artistic journey, August participated (and is still participating) in various group exhibitions and he has received numerous honorary mentions and international prizes for his work. He was invited by Eikon Culture Visual Reflections, being the only South African between artists of over 70 countries to participate in three international exhibitions in Italy. You will recognize his name as Auguste Naude on their page. During 2017 to 2019, August has been exhibiting at the Heaven Art Gallery which was based in Arizona and he is still exhibiting at the Blank Wall Gallery, in Athens, Orenda Gallery in Nevada as well as various online exhibitions like Fusion Art Gallery. His work is on display and is accessible internationally. August’s exhibition at Fusion Art during August 2018 walked away with Best in Show in the 3rd Artist’s Choice International Juried Art Exhibition. He is also a fully affiliated member of the Lyon based Circle Foundation For The Arts. Photography and the creation of art is not a job for August. It is rather living an artistic life which he is extremely passionate about.

August’s website is: www.augustnaudephotography.com