BLUE ART SHOW


 

 

 

 

 

Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the fourth Blue online art show for the month of November 2024. The show encompassed a range of artistic styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, fiber, fused glass, collage, ink, photography, digital art). Each submission has been judged based on the following elements of artistic expression: orginality and quality of art, overall design, creativity, interpretation of the theme, demonstration of artistic ability and usage of medium. Out of all entries, 84 artworks were shortlisted for inclusion in the show. The competition attracted entries from many countries across the world: USA, Canada, Italy, Greece, Australia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Armenia, Isreal, Japan and India. Enjoy the show and thank you for expressing an interest in our competition.

 

 

 

 

BEST OF SHOW

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Jay Johansen - The Art of Poise

acrylic on canvas - 50'' x 46''

 

 

Jay Johansen draws inspiration from the complexities of human expression, cultural icons, and the shifting moods of nature. Influences from classical portraiture blend with contemporary elements, creating a style that bridges tradition and modernity. His fascination with influential figures, such as Nelson Mandela and John Lennon, reflects his belief in art’s power to capture legacy and emotion. Additionally, the serenity and vastness of the ocean inspire many of his newer works, infusing them with movement and tranquility. Through vibrant color, textured layers, and meaningful subjects, Johansen’s art celebrates the beauty of individuality and the ever-evolving connection between people and their environment. My art explores identity, emotion, and legacy. Through portraits and oceanic scenes, 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.

 

 

 

 

FIRST PLACE

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Cher Pruys - Davids Flight

acrylic on hot press - 20'' x 27''

 

 

Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA. I am a self taught artists working in water based medium, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and water-colour. I am a hyperrealism painter fascinated by the world around me. I am very drawn to shiny surfaces as well as transparent objects, especially when the lighting brings them to life. I look for beauty in everyday objects that most people take for granted or just don’t truly see them as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. Shiny metal is one of those materials that can host endless visions….the light hits it and the reflections are captured on the smooth, sleek surface…people and animals especially the eyes...an artists dream! My future art plans are to paint the countless subjects I have chosen to become paintings and to share my art with as many people as I can. "To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer .... That is the ultimate in self expression."

 

 

 

 

SECOND PLACE

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Jason Shih - Spring

painted ABS - 41 x 48 x 84 cm

 

 

Jason Shih was born in 1972 in Taiwan. In 1991, he began to specialize in metal sculpture when he was a sophomore in the Fine Arts Dept. of Taipei National University of the Arts. In 2001, he graduated from School for American Crafts, Rochester Institute of Technology, USA, and majored in Metal Sculpture. And then, he served as the metal sculptor Albert Paley's assistant, involved in crafts and public art work practices. Furthermore, he earned his Art Ph. D. from China Academy of Art, China (2015). Now, he lives in Taiwan, and consistently engages in the both areas of sculpture and public art. Jason Shih’s artistic vision is shaped by a diverse array of influences, from contemporary dance to avant-garde fashion. He cites German choreographer Pina Bausch and British designer Alexander McQueen as significant inspirations. Bausch’s explorations of time and space resonate with Shih’s interest in sculpture’s capacity to embody kinetic energy and spatial imagination. McQueen’s innovative approach to contemporary imagery and themes provides Shih with a broad canvas for creative expression. Shih’s work is also influenced by the aesthetic principles of Futurism and Constructivism, movements that emphasize dynamic energy and continuous motion. These influences are evident in his pursuit of capturing the beauty of movement and the elegant restraint of natural forces. Shih’s sculptures often depict moments of defying gravity, capturing the fleeting beauty of motion in a static form. As a professional sculptor, Jason likes to experience the taste of life with perceptual observation in the subtle moments, and also likes the ever-changing situation of game shapes in the poetic imaginary space. For Jason, art creation is to share various moods and stories in daily life.

 

 

 

 

THIRD PLACE

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Holger A. Baehr - 2024 08 04 - Whispers of the Sky

acrylic on canvas - 50 x 50 cm

 

 

Working with acrylic on canvas, I use paint in either a layering or sketching process. Often I work on a series of paintings at the same time; each one feeds the next and brings a certain harmony to the body of work. Whilst some pieces stand alone, new directions in my work have resulted in certain pieces being connected to each other; consequently they should remain side by side in a series as one piece. My paintings always associate with the surrounding landscape. I paint from memory, rather than from photographs or sketches, often inspired by continuous journeys through the Irish countryside, especially the Shannon region where I live. More recently I have chosen to paint scenes of Heidelberg, but treating them as landscapes, avoiding obvious traditional architectural features in favour of impressionistic studies of river, light and the characteristic red colours of the local stone. Although the subject matter can be recognised as a landscape, it has an abstract quality to it. The basic elements of the scene are broken down into more simplified forms and I try to capture and portray the climatic qualities of a certain place at a certain point in time. Some of my paintings are best seen from a distance, while others require close-up viewing to appreciate the underlying layers of paint, resulting in an intimate viewing experience. My aim is to connect each viewer personally with each composition – to remind them, by an unexpected moment of emotion, of a place they once knew, or visited. Reacting to visual and atmospheric elements around me, i create work which is meditative for both myself and observers. This brings a quiet beauty to my paintings without distracting the eye by traditional elements such as animals, people and builds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MERIT AWARD

 

 

 

 

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HONORABLE MENTION

 

 

 

 

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FINALISTS

 

 

 

 

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