COLOUR
SEPTEMBER 2026
BEST IN SHOW
CYNTHIA YATCHMAN
* BURT *
Acrylic, alcohol ink
“As a painter and printmaker, I frequently work on segmented pieces using acrylic, latex paint and inks on a synthetic smooth treeless paper called “yupo” which allows for flow and movement, creating surprises as well as allowing for well intentioned marks. I am interested in beauty, understanding, unity, texture and movement in my work. There is often an unseen history within the layers. As I frequently pair pieces together I may emphasize their differences: black and white against vibrant color; a print adjacent to a painting; an abstract piece next to a representational image. The images reference nature and its fragility.” — CYNTHIA YATCHMAN
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
JOHN DIEPHOUSE
**RUBY ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024**
**CRYSTAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2023**
* TURN TURN TURN *
Photography
“I am a self-taught photographer and digital collage artist and am attracted to a wide variety of subjects ranging from natural landscapes, botanicals and wildlife to images that provide either abstract expression or social commentary. I am interested in sharing images that evoke a story of some kind. Images may be simply documentary, reflect a sense of time and place or resonate on a more abstract level of color,
shape or form. Others provoke an indefinable question that does not readily yield answers without further study and reflection.” — JOHN DIEPHOUSE
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
JAY JOHANSEN
**SAPPHIRE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024**
* THE ORANGES OF SANTORINI *
Acrylic
“My art explores identity, emotion and legacy. Through portraits I capture not just likeness but essence, using bold palettes and textures to evoke nostalgia, intrigue and reflection inviting viewers to connect with deeper stories. Legacy, history & experience — that’s what makes the story telling, by way of oil & acrylic mediums — approachable, relevant & enduring.” — JAY JOHANSEN
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
GABRIELE GRACINE
**EMERALD ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2021**
EMERALD AWARD
GWAK YOUN JOO
* HAPPY JOURNEY *
Acrylic
“My work explores the diverse faces of human life through painterly interpretations of everyday encounters and emotions. At the heart of my visual language is the butterfly, a recurring motif that symbolizes the complexity of human relationships, the flutter of anticipation, hope, transformation and the courage to begin again. Rather than depicting life as fixed or complete, my paintings embrace moments of change and the quiet beauty found within personal journeys.” — GWAK YOUN JOO
RUBY AWARD
COOLBYRON
* NEW VISTA AD24236A12 *
Digital
“The concept is developed from Art And Technology Of Design and from a sophisticated concept of intrinsic value of space. My work explores the nature of color and abstracted impressionism in contemporary art and investigates ideas related to man’s impact on nature. I created a new style of Techno-Expressionism which incorporates both hand and digital technologies. The composition is an image that integrates colour fields and structured forms using latex mediums, encaustic, pigments and acrylic on canvas or prints. My focus is colour advancement — to create a new art image and form.” — COOLBYRON
SAPPHIRE AWARD
LINDA L. MCCORD
**SAPPHIRE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2022**
* JUST BEYOND *
Mixed media
“Behind Closed Doors is a series of acrylic and mixed media works exploring the unseen moments of life — the thoughts, emotions and stories that unfold out of view. Through layered paint, texture and intuitive mark-making, each piece hints at a narrative, inviting viewers to imagine what lies beyond the surface.”
— LINDA L. MCCORD
CRYSTAL AWARD
(in random order)
AWARD OF MERIT
(in random order)
(in random order)
HONOURABLE MENTION
(in random order)
FINALISTS
**WINNERS VIDEO**