 AFC Best of Show Award Winner
 Medal of Excellence |
Stephen Jesic 
"Family Gathering" (Acrylic)
I have always wanted to explore the design of a square painting and to create an illusion of it not being square. Searching through my reference photos I found a superb river gum scene. Cropping the photo into a square format highlighted the design challenges. The tree and branches had a very dominant shape which only strengthened the square format. To break this, I warped the tree forming a more diagonal droopy L shape to dominate and overpower the square format. Finally, I added the Gang Gang’s, branches, flower buds, leaves and bark to enhance the complexity completing the illusion.
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AFC Best of Show Award Winner
Medal of Excellence |
Leo Osborne 
"Return To Turtle Island" (Wood)
Distant water between you and me, With directions found in matrix energy, You flew above, I swam below the mystic seas, Returning to turtle island, The place where our hearts wish to be.
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AFC Best of Show Award Winner
Medal of Excellence |
Breanna Podlasly 
"Nlaka'Pamux Heléw" (Pastels)
Perched high in the embrace of a fir tree, the bald eagle watches over the land below with unwavering focus. Created in chalk pastel, this piece captures a moment of stillness, strength, and sacred presence. The textured softness of the pastel contrasts with the sharp gaze of the eagle - symbolizing both grace and power held in a quiet balance. To many, the eagle represents vision, spiritual guidance, and a connection to higher truths. Nestled among the fir branches, it becomes not just a bird, but a messenger- rooted in the natural world while soaring beyond it. The fir tree, with its evergreen resilience, stands as a symbol of endurance and timelessness, holding space for the eagle's presence.
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Environmental Statement Award |
Spencer Frazer
"Wailing" (Oil)
‘Wailing’ depicts the continuing practice of hunting whales and is symbolic of man’s obsession to dominate and alter nature. The chief objections to whale hunting are that it is inherently inhumane, causing an unacceptable amount of pain and suffering in the animals killed, and that, as practiced on a commercial scale, it threatens to drive (or already has driven) many species to the brink of extinction.
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Best Interpretive / Abstract |
David Gallup
""Eternal Bond"" (Oil)
Collaborative oil painting, Nansi Bielanski Gallup and David Gallup.
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Medal of Excellence |
Michael Dumas
"Solstice " (Oil)
Much of my artwork is based on observations close to home, and the Eastern Chipmunk is as close as it can be, making its home in the many rock walls of our lakeside gardens. Because of this close proximity, my sketch books depict the many observations of these endearing little animals and a variety of situations they get themselves into. 'Solstice' shows an individual emerging in early spring, with last year's leaves flattened by heavy winter snow, and an evergreen moss still vibrant after the long-frozen months.
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Medal of Excellence |
Garry Fleming
"A Little Rainbow" (Oil)
I had a load of fun painting this colourful Australian lorikeet. I spent around 4 months from start to completion. These noisy little birds visit my garden regularly and I wanted to capture their cheeky raucous behaviour in my painting. Thanks to @Andytychon for his outstanding reference photos!
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Medal of Excellence |
Annik Janssens 
"What About Me" (Pastels)
Due to deforestation, these magnificent animals have less and less space to live, and their babies are regularly captured and sold as pets. The mother is then almost always killed. This guy is dreaming of a better future, let us all do that!
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Medal of Excellence |
Bruce Lawes
"Shades of Grey" (Oil)
In my painting, 'Shades of Grey', the light filters through the cold crisp air as it illuminates the ice crystals on the bed of leaves where this Grey Wolf rests peacefully. A flash of red in a few of the leaves depicts a recently past Autumn but also echoes the thirst for her prey is drawing near. She is always alert to her surroundings and knows at any moment her wild nature may be called upon. The Grey Wolf, being the largest living wild canine species, also has the second largest population in Canada, second only to Russia.
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Pollyanna Pickering Award Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Lisa Gleim
"Frozen Shake" (Pastels)
Polar Bears, Latin name Ursus maritimus, meaning "sea bear” are the world’s largest bear. They are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of our marine ecosystem. Unfortunately, polar bear numbers in the Arctic are dwindling primarily due to the impacts of climate change, specifically the melting of sea ice habitat. As it disappears, polar bears face challenges in hunting, breeding, and finding safe places to rest. Other issues affecting their populations are pollution, human conflict, reduced food sources and disease. As with all apex predators, polar bears are vital to the earth’s overall ecosystem and need to be protected.
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John Seerey-Lester Award |
Kimberly Beck
"Tyto Alba" (Oil)
On a trip to a wildlife rehabilitation center, I was lucky to observe this barn owl at close range and in beautiful light. I grew up on a ranch in Northern California where we hear the barn owl's screeching call at night. There is a haunting quality about them that feels ethereal. I painted him in a looser, expressionistic style in a short amount of time to keep the painting feeling fresh and direct.
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Best Landscape Award |
Mark Hobson
"Tonquin Island Under Golden Skies" (Acrylic)
There can be long days of grey skies during the winter off the west coast of Vancouver Island, but occasionally at sunset the horizon opens up to the west and a flood of golden light pours across the cold ocean. The feeling is exhilarating as the feeble warmth lingers for a few moments before the onset of a winter night.
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Western Art Collector Magazine Award Winner |
Daniel Davis
"Leaf Jam on Breakneck Creek" (Watercolor)
This is a scene from Breakneck Creek which drains into Seneca Lake. I hiked and painted the area in my youth but have recently returned to live in the area and care for the family lake house. I have always loved the Glens, and the way light behaves on the water and stones. The granite stone is a glacial exotic surrounded by local Devonian shale.
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Western Art Collector Magazine Award Winner |
Bruce Lawes
"The Adventure Begins" (Oil)
One early morning as the sun rose on August 8th on Silver Lake in Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, a quest through the west began for this mother moose and her calves. This climactic moment in time shows the wilderness at its finest. It captures the mother and one of the calves cautiously glancing at us, the viewer, as though we are a potential threat to her family or at the very least, intruding on their adventure that has only just begun. These moments are fleeting but always precious and we should allow the next generation to thrive through their long journey and challenges ahead.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Don Alemany
"Dusting The House" (Wood)
This sculpture captures a fleeting yet vital moment in the life of a house sparrow: the act of dust bathing. With wings partially spread and feathers animated in motion, the bird is rendered in a pose that speaks to both elegance and instinctive necessity. The detailed gravel base provides a tactile contrast to the soft, intricately carved plumage, highlighting the craftsmanship behind each element. More than a depiction of natural behaviour, this piece invites reflection on resilience, self-preservation, and the quiet intelligence of wildlife. Dusting the House is a study in movement and material—where realism meets deeper narrative—offering collectors a work that is both visually engaging and thematically rich.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Don Alemany
"Docking Bay" (Wood)
This sculpture captures the breathtaking moment a bird touches down—graceful, sudden, and impossibly precise. With a deep fascination for avian form, color, and behaviour, I explore the contrast between their delicate size and extraordinary agility. Birds inspire endless creative possibilities, especially in flight and landing, where they assume seemingly impossible positions on the tiniest of feet. Docking Bay celebrates that fleeting instant of arrival, inviting viewers to pause and marvel at nature’s quiet spectacle.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Del-Bourree Bach
"Summer Pass" (Acrylic)
I am always inspired by the life in and around the surf line, whether it is plovers or willets feeding and scurrying in the shallows, seals swimming and hunting just beyond the breakers, or this magnificent great egret flying low right on the same plane as a cresting wave. These beautiful creatures complete the scene, giving it and my paintings necessary life. I will never tire of watching and learning.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Andrea Cheers
"Night Life" (Pastels)
The dainty tree frog (Ranoidea gracilenta), also known as the graceful tree frog, is a medium sized frog reaching up to about 4.5cm in body length. The male frog increases the volume of its mating call by ballooning out its throat. The dainty tree frog is native to eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Photographic references supplied by Jeff Herd.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Michael Dumas
"Rocky Mountain Cougar" (Colored pencil)
Mountain lion, Cougar, Puma, are all names applied to this same large wild cat of the Americas. The eastern form of the North America population has suffered a drastic decline, with just a few rare sightings every year to instill some small hope for the population's revival. Cougars inhabit a variety of habitats in North, Central, and South America, with the densest population in Canada occurring on Vancouver Island. Despite this, they are seldom seen due to these animals being rather solitary and difficult to spot in the dense forests of that region.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
James Fiorentino
"Pine Barrens Tree Frog" (Watercolor)
The striking appearance of the Pine Barrens Tree Frog – a threatened species in New Jersey – makes it a wonderful subject for artists and is a favorite of mine. Habitat loss, declining populations, and pollution all pose ongoing risks to its survival. These delicate creatures are indicators of the health of their environment. I am deeply passionate about painting local animals that many people may not realize exist. Through my artwork, I hope to share the importance of conservation. Each piece represents not just an artistic endeavor, but a call to action.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Spencer Frazer
"Tar and Feather" (Oil)
Tar and Feather was inspired by growing up in Los Angeles near the La Brea tar pits and watching the oil bubbling up. ‘Nearby on the hills, I could also see the pump jacks working away pumping the oil and looking like mechanical birds pecking at the earth.’ Here one can see the symbolic conflict between man with its dependence on crude oil and nature which has become trapped by it.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Fiona Goulding 
"Because We Love the Kiwis" (Oil)
Climate change is impacting the New Zealand Kiwi. Kiwi have nostrils at the end of their long beaks with which they probe the earth to find food and water underground. However, rising temperatures are causing the earth to dry and harden, so the kiwi cannot pierce the soil. This is especially problematic for chicks who have softer bills. Climate change is occurring at an accelerated rate. In this painting, the dandelion visually metamorphoses into the foraging kiwi as a symbol of time. It is featured in Fiona’s children’s book, ‘Because We Love Wildlife’, which imaginatively depicts the impacts of climate change on wildlife.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Annik Janssens
"Spotted Girl" (Pastels)
Hyenas are very fascinating animals. People mostly think of them as ugly, dirty creatures. But when I saw this girl on a beautiful morning in Kruger NP in South Africa, I was immediately struck by her friendly, intelligent look. With this artwork, I hope people will look at this highly intelligent and social animal in a different way.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Calvin Nicholls
"Banks Island Bravado" ()
artist - Calvin Nicholls
title - “Banks Island Bravado” - musk ox 1/1
papers - main subject - buffered fine art Mi-teintes paper by Canson
support - snow -100% cotton paper by Papeterie Saint Armand, Montreal
completed - May 4, 2025
artwork dimensions - 29“w x 17” h x 1 1/2“d
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Joie Paré
"Treasures" (Acrylic)
Piled and forgotten, antique auto bits and pieces rust and fade in the country heat. A trio of magpies find it a good place to scavenge for something good, just as a collector may do amidst the relics. I wanted to challenge myself and push boundaries in painting this piece. The wood grain in the boards, the chrome and textures of both rusted and painted metal, the precision of the symmetry of the rims and grill lines, and the casted shadows all were a very satisfying experience.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Natalie Parker
"Southern Colour" (Acrylic)
While on a trip to Tasmania a couple of years ago, I was fortunate to capture his scene. Pink Robins are quieter than most Robins, and are found in southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. Their natural habitats are cool, temperate forests. My intention was to paint every tiny detail of the Pink Robin as well as all the different lichen and mosses that I found in Tassie. The cool climate at Cradle Mountain is the perfect environment for the most amazing moss and lichen growth on nearly every branch on the bushland.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Patricia Pepin
"Little Shadows" (Oil)
I have a little pond in my backyard that we dug up some years ago. It is an endless source of inspiration for my paintings. It has many frogs in the summer, and they often pose near the water lilies. When the light is just right, I take many photographs that I use as reference all through the year.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Betsy Popp
"Ancient Waters" (Mixed media)
When using acrylic to create a free form, abstract background, I enjoy creating the background and then studying the creation to decide what subject matter best fits the background. I was very delighted to instantly realize that a Great White Shark would finish this piece out perfectly. Working abstractly is a great change of pace from the fine detailed work I usually do. The abstract work gives freedom that the specifics of fine detail work cannot.
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Honorable Mention Award Winner |
Joe Watkins
"Under the Egyptian Sun, Nile Crocodile and Plovers" (Scratchboard)
This is my first attempt at portraying a reptile on scratchboard, a medium that lends itself to fur and feathers, proved to be a challenge. I added the Plovers for a splash of colour and scale as they are a constant companion of the crocodile. These huge primitive reptiles can grow to over a ton and measure over 5 meters when fully grown.
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