| Art
Show awards
Norma Pfaff received the Best of Show Award, People’s Choice Award, and Kids’ Choice Award (tied with another of her entries) for her oil painting of a cougar, “Wanna Play”. She received First Place Award and the Kids Choice tie for her second cougar pose, “Through a Cats Eyes”. (Ms. Pfaff pictured with judge, Shane Chapman.) Ms. Pfaff was born and raised on a Montana farm, where she developed a passion for animals. She notes, "There's something pure about the spirit of an animal. They are who they are and there's no changing that, and they can read your spirit effortlessly. Either they trust you, or they don't, and that all begins with your intent." She says she loves to spend time out in the field gathering photo references, “It's not always an easy chore to find animals in their natural habitat, some are quite illusive, but when I do, I get so excited, it's like the first time, every time." Norma is mostly self-taught through reading, observing, and experimenting and has taken an occasional workshop to improve her skills and to get to know other artists. She uses only professional quality paint and substrates and finishes with a good archival varnish. Her style is realism because she likes detail, but depending on her subject and her mood, she integrates impressionism to help her express the movement she is looking for. In 2007, Norma took the leap and changed careers to become a full time artist. She was introduced to oils in high school and tried her hand at painting in the early 80's, but with a busy tax practice, she did not have the time to perfect her skills. Since 2007, she has tried many mediums and has worked her way back to oil. "I like the richness and depth that I can achieve when painting in oil." She further states, "Art is a form of communication, a wonderful dance between the spirit of my subject and the spirit of the viewer. My goal is to connect the two." CIAA received 64 entries at their Spring Art Show. Other top prizes awarded were: First Place and Merit Award to Leah Harvey for “Rest in Peace”; Merit Award to Ellamae Holes for “Cottontails and Cottonwoods”; Merit Award to Joyce Close for “Aspen Reflection”. First Place and Gallery Award went to Bud Freedman for his sculpture, “About Face”. First Place awards went to David Martin for his photograph, “Verdant Amphitheater”; to Debbie Fournier for a unique colored pencil of a butterfly collection, “Wings of Glory”; to Jackie Zumalt for watercolor portrait, “Munez Element-Stein”; to Gordon Talley for his oil-pastel, “Summer Tributaries”. Second Place Awards went to Mary Bakker for a pastel, “Peaceful Lake” and her oil, “Lurking”; to David Martin for his photograph, “Heaven’s Pearls”; to Carrie Jo Rehfeld for her pencil drawing, “Emma Kelly” and her watercolor, “I’m So Pretty”; to Kathryn Van Acker for her assemblage/sculpture, “Circles #8”. Third Place winners went to David Martin for his photograph, “Two’s A Crowd”; to Ellamae Holes for her oil, “Nee Me Poo Treasures”; to Debbie Barnett for her acrylic, “Generations”; to Susie Barnett for her watercolor, “Are We There Yet”; to Jackie Zumalt for her acrylic, “Rocks”; to Rebecca Bailey for her oil-pastel, “Return of the Sun”; to Patty Ost for her acrylic, “Arnett Meadow”. “Arnett Meadow” also earned a People’s Choice Award. People’s Choice also went to Janice Inghram for her photograph, “Snowshoe Falls”. 
Judge Shane Chapman congratulates Norma Pfaff for Best of Show at the recent art show. |
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