Winners of the Burlington Artists League’s (BAL) Annual Small Art Competition for BAL members were announced at a reception on Sunday, February 6 at the Burlington Artists League Fine Arts Gallery at Holly Hill Mall and Business Center.  There were 25 artists submitting entries into the competition that included all media of two-dimensional art.

  A major perimeter of the competition was that the size of the art, excluding the frame, could not be larger than 32 unified inches (the measure of the one width added to one height of the art piece).  

The judge for the competition was regionally known full time artist David Nance.  David and his wife Beth live in Graham.  As Mr. Nance made his selections of the winning entries he composed short comments about these pieces of art.  His comments have been posted with the pieces in the show so that everyone can see what the judge saw that was outstanding about the selections. 

The first place (cash award) winner was a pencil drawing “Night Afield” created by Steven Reinhart of Graham NC.  The second cash award spot was taken by a watercolor painting called “Mountain Rhododendron II” created by James Teague of Burlington NC.  The third cash winning position was a mixed media painting “Pachyderm” by Frances Baker of Browns Summit NC. 

Additionally there were seven entries that received Honorable Mentions.  John Flowers received an HM for a photograph titled “Under the Bridge”.  Kathleen Gwinnett received an HM presentation on her watercolor painting “Sicilian View”.  Jamie Hansen was awarded her HM for a watercolor painting “1959 Chevy Impala”.  Mira Pawlus received a HM for a mixed media titled “Divine Light”.  Steven Reinhart also received an HM award on his pencil drawing “Night Ashore”.  Baxter Smith was awarded his HM for a digital photograph “Sea Thing”.  Lane Watson was awarded his HM for his photograph titled “Down an Autumn Drive”. 

The reasonably priced art will remain on exhibit and for sale at the BAL Fine Arts Gallery for the remainder of the month of February.  Located adjacent to Sears at the Mall the operating hours are Monday through Friday 12 noon to 8 PM and Saturday from 10 AM until 9 PM. 

Pictured far left is Honorable Mention winners Kathleen Gwinette and Jamie Hansen with watercolors.  Far right is Honorable Mention winners John Flowers and Lane Watson with photography.  Pictured center right is Steven Reinhart 1st place winner and center left is James Teague 2nd place winner.  Not pictured are France Baker 3rd place winner and Honorable Mention winners Mira Pawlus and Baxter Smith