Best in Show

Often using micrographs or x-rays as reference material, my work offers a window into a mysterious and microscopic realm. I am captivated by the process of translating scientific renderings into sculptural artworks. Through my work, I strive to capture a sense of wonder and imagination showcasing the elegance, complexity and intelligent design as evidenced within life itself.

My ceramic wall sculptures are sculpted by hand from start to finish. Using stoneware and paper clay, I create forms and textures using wide variety of hand-built techniques to create my various forms and textures. Each piece is then painted by hand, often using ceramic washes, underglazes and glazes. Certain pieces may call for a different treatment and are then hand-painted with non-firing mediums and/or embellished with mixed media elements.

https://ginajacklin.com/

Exceptional Fine Art

I am a figurative artist with a focus on contemporary realism. My portraits are designed to tell a story through enigmatic expression and unusual backgrounds. I am an OCA graduate and have had an extensive career in art display.

My medium of choice is oil on panel. I layer oil to achieve the desired luminosity. I paint on wood panel as a smooth surface allows me to achieve the results I want. I purposely make small paintings allowing people to be able to afford original artwork.

www.etsy.com/ca/shop/artscapeoils

Exceptional Craft & Design

Silvia Taylor is a glass designer/maker who resides in rural Ontario. As a designer she aims to create simple and elegant glassware that facilitates everyday events.

All my work is blown without the use of moulds, which is important to note because it speaks to the precision achieved through years of practice. My process is known as traditional glass blowing or furnace glass blowing, where the objects start off as molten glass, which I then free-form into each individual piece. What makes this work unique is simply that it is difficult to execute due to its unforgiving simplicity. Thin glass presents its own set of challenges and blowing consistently is another skill set entirely. I am very strict about quality and consistency.

https://www.silviataylor.ca/

Craftsperson Award of Merit

Courtney Downman is a Canadian Glass Artist, Instructor, and current Artist-in-Residence at the Living Arts Centre glass studio in Mississauga ON. Courtney began working with glass in 2012 after enrolling in the Craft and Design program at Sheridan College.

Courtney creates her signature series of blown and saw carved glass vessels by carving into the glass using a water fed diamond saw. Each piece begins as a smooth and translucent bubble that has been coloured and shaped. Once cooled, Courtney then begins to delicately carve each textured line, cutting the glass away to reveal the final form. Each piece is then sandblasted create a matte finish. Each work explores the balance between fragility and rigidity in a material we often consider extremely fragile.