Best of Show: Natalie Blake's "Purple Urchin"

Congratulations to ceramic artist Natalie Blake, the “2008 Art in the Round Contest” Best of Show winner and recipient of a $3,000 cash award.

Natalie won with her entry “Purple Urchin”, a hand-thrown, carved porcelain vessel with hand-thrown/built porcelain lid.  Beautiful!

The Art in the Round Contest is hosted by online gallery, BeautifulBowls.com.  BeautifulBowls supports craftsmen through this competition by providing them with online exposure, cash awards, and sales opportunities.

The 2008 Art in the Round Contest - 1st Place winners for each media category

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2008 Art in the Round jury process! 

Pictured above are the 1st Place winners in each media category.  Each 1st Place winner receives a $500 cash award and qualifies for the final leg of the competition, Best of Show, which will be awarded November 30th, 2008.

State Finalists are as follows:

AK – Jill Choate
AL – Mary Segreto
AR – Mark Cothren
AZ – Nicholas Bernard
CA – Julie Zarrow Erickson
CT – Karin Noyes
FL – Bernard Montoya
GA – Christie Moody
IA – Ernest Koch
IL – Peter Patterson
KY – Dennis Shaffner
LA – Andi Moran
MA – Lois Russell
MD – Charlene Randolph
ME – Sarah Shepley
MI – Judy Geerts
MN – Val Bolen
MS – Gabriella Delawey
MT – Dave Kirk
NC – Mike Lalone
NJ – Lauren Bellero
NY – Lynn Goodman
OH – Laura Donnelly
OK – Toby McGee
OR – Shannon Weber
SC – Amy Goldstein-Rice
TN – Louis Colombarini
TX – Teri Carson
UT – Curtis Fuller
VT – Sandra Lance
WA – Dorothy McGuinness

Autumn Jones of Georgia – our youngest participant – will receive a total of $150 in gift certificates donated by Golden Artist Colors and Blick Art Materials.

Juror Cheryl Stoyle is the winner of a handcrafted artisan bowl from BeautifulBowls.com, host of the 2008 Art in the Round Contest.

Learn more about the Art in the Round Contest.

Art in the Round Contest Entries (partial)

The 2008 Art in the Round Contest is a publicly juried competition for fine craft artists featuring creative 3-dimensional interpretations of the vessel form.  This year’s competition will soon come to a close and winners will be announced over the next 3 weeks.  State Finalists and 1st Place winners in each media category will be announced after November 15th.  The Best of Show winner will be announced by December 1st. 

The competition is publicly juried.  If you’d like to participate in next year’s voting process, just email us and we’ll add you to our contact list.

Are you an artist that would like to enter the 2009 competition?  Let us know!  

The competition is hosted by BeautifulBowls.com and has a dedicated website, www.artintheroundcontest.com .

Long Boat by Shannon Weber. Bulb whip sea kelp heads, waxed linen, sea grass, raffia. (copyright Shannon Weber)

Participating Artist: Shannon Weber, Oregon

Learn more about Shannon Weber.

Illuminated vessels by Rick Strini (copyright Rick Strini)

Participating artist:  Rick Strini, Hawaii

Learn more about Rick Strini.

Beaded coconut shells by Julie Zarrow Erickson (copyright Julie Zarrow Erickson)

Participating Artist:  Julie Zarrow Erickson, California

Learn more about Julie Zarrow Erickson.

Black Ash splint basket by JoAnn Kelly Catsos (copyright JoAnn Kelly Catsos)

Participating Artist:  JoAnn Kelly Catsos, Massachusetts

Learn more about JoAnn Kelly Catsos.

Stoneware vessel by Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi (copyright LP Eskenazie)

Participating Artist:  Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi, Illinois

Artist’s Statement:  I am a ceramic artist from the Midwest.  While a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, I explored many different mediums but found myself always returning to the pliable, tactile qualities of clay.

Inspiration is drawn from memories of items found on my Grandmother’s dresser and old quilts.  I am intrigued by the surprise of tiny flowers, moss and vines nestled in the crevices of…

Learn more about Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi. 

Earthenware vessel by Andi Moran (copyright Andi Moran)

Participating Artist:  Andi Moran, Louisiana

Artist’s Statement:  The botanical nature of this series of work makes reference to the Buddhist teaching that man is born with both positive and negative seeds stored deep within his soul.  The developmental direction of each man depends upon which seeds are brought to the surface and watered…     

Learn more about Andi Moran.

Polymer clay bowl by Karin Noyes (copyrigh Karin Noyes)

Participating Artist:  Karin Noyes, Connecticut

Learn more about Karin Noyes.