Remember Who You Are
I am a first-generation Ecuadorian American artist, born and raised with a passion for creativity. From a young age, I was drawn to the vibrant world of graffiti, a love that not only shaped my artistic vision but also led me to win multiple competitions, including mural contests. In high school, I was honored to be voted “Most Artistic,” an acknowledgment that fueled my desire to pursue art in all its forms.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, I developed a strong foundation in design and structure, which seamlessly blends into my work as both an artist and a third-generation stone mason. I am the owner of Art in Stone Masonry and Design, a company that specializes in creating one-of-a-kind stone works, combining my architectural skills with my family’s craftsmanship traditions.
Painting has always been an integral part of my life. While I’ve explored various styles, my current focus is abstract painting, where I express emotion and energy through color, texture, and form. My art is a reflection of my journey, influenced by my cultural roots, my experiences in the world of
As an avid traveler, my work is deeply influenced by new experiences, unfamiliar landscapes, and fleeting encounters. I am drawn to abstract faces—sometimes inspired by people I meet along the way, but more often, reflections of myself. Each piece becomes a visual diary, capturing emotions, moments, and memories that words cannot fully express.
My process is intuitive and unrestrained. I begin by emptying my mind, allowing color to lead the way. The shades and tones I choose are often those that stood out to me during my travels—vivid hues from a bustling city, muted earth tones from a quiet desert, or the unexpected contrast of light and shadow. Using brushes, spray paint, or scraping techniques, I layer and distort until a face emerges, raw and undefined, yet deeply familiar.
I believe my best work comes when I stop thinking and simply let it flow. In that space of pure instinct, I find truth—not just in the faces I create, but in the connection between movement, memory, and emotion.
Representation Of Life
Irina Howard is a New York-based artist whose work explores the complexity of human life experiences. She is internationally recognized for rigorously composed and sublimely musing paintings and sculptures. Her innovative style is inspired by organic forms and textures bridging reality and imagination, giving a physical form to a conceptual idea, and revealing the visible within the invisible.
Howard was born and grew up in Ukraine. As a child, she encountered traumatic events that influenced her to interact with the world through her drawings. Her youth Howard spent in the elite cultural group committed to arts and literature, where she established her lifelong passion for the arts. By lifting the burden off her shoulders, she emerged with the personal belief that the artist has no right to contribute any more pain to a world full of struggle and despair, which kept her in artistic silence for several years. Moving to the United States, exploring different careers, and then heading into a midlife crisis significantly changed her perspectives and led to a creative awakening. Her real-life experiences of grief and hope found reflection in her current series of works. Howard studied fine arts and graduated with honors from the City University of New York and Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
Irina Howard is a recipient of several awards. Her recent recognitions: “Oscar of Visual Arts” as Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art in 2022 by Art Tour International Magazine. Her work has been widely published in magazines like Aesthetica, the Art & Culture Magazine, Art Ideal Contemporary Aesthetics Magazine, and art books worldwide, including Important World Artists by Worldwide Artbooks. Her most recent exhibitions are at Art San Diego in California, and Hamptons Fine Art Fair in New York, USA. Her work highlights multiple private collections internationally.
“Patterns of Life” is a black-and-white collection of paintings and sculptures communicating life experiences and human values. The choices we make in life shape our identity and motivate our future behavior. By illustrating both positive and negative outcomes, I encourage the viewer to believe in themselves, be their best, and look for a positive change.
I draw inspiration from organic texture and compose my themes by giving physical form to a conceptual idea, bridging reality and imagination in the form of artistic beauty and revitalizing energy. My fascination with forms and textures takes me on a journey to reveal and interpret their meaning, unique purpose, and beauty in connection to human experiences. The creative use of symbols illustrates visual metaphors and offers insight into an idea or a concept from a different perspective.
My processes combine research, thoughtful, conscious decisions, and spontaneous, intuitive solutions while creating compositions. I realized that abstract style is my best form of artistic expression. It opens doors for curiosity, imagination, interpretation, and the flow of inner emotions. The development stage is very exciting. Lines – help me to create feelings; shapes and forms – to reflect emotions, thoughts, and perception; texture – to reveal experiences; color tones – to add contrast and reinforce the message through design and composition.
My favorite elements are circles and curved lines. I found them simple but, at the same time, very compelling. The circle is a line that never stops, represents “completeness,” and gives a sense of protection, friendship, femineity, community, and perfection. It naturally communicates positive emotions and builds a strong visual identity. In my work, circles often symbolize hope.
My body of work expresses personal experiences, thoughts, spirituality, feelings, and philosophy in life. I always strive to inspire hope and encourage positivity.
Resilience
Jared Konopitski is an artist living and working in Sacramento, California. Jared works in many mediums; however, he primarily works with acrylic paintings. Jared has worked with many clients such as Art O Mat, Turning Art, Wide Open Walls, and more. In addition, Jared has curated numerous gallery shows and corporate art seminars. In his spare time, he enjoys facilitating art workshops with a focus on early art education. His work has been exhibited at galleries, festivals, and museums across the US and internationally, including:
The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.
The Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
The Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, PA.
Stranger Factory, Algodones, New Mexico
Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA
Baton Rouge Gallery, Surreal Salon, Louisiana
Jared has had his work seen in:
Adbusters Magazine(2023)
Juxtapoz.com (2018)
PBS Art Showcase television show (2015 – 2017)
The New Yorker (2014)
Color Ink Book (2013)
Papercut Magazine (2013)
Arcana’s Steampunk Originals (2013)
Heavy Metal Magazine (2012)
Catapult Magazine (2012), DisColouring Book (2012)
Penumbra eZine (2012)
And Wow! Cool! Psycho Nurse Calendar (2011)
Awards:
KVIE Art Auction Curator Award – 2019
I am inspired by all things beautifully weird, such as monsters, the bugs living under the rocks, creatures in jars, ghosts, all the nooks and crannies of nature. But I am also inspired by comics, cartoons, noise music and neon anything. So I try to paint the way these things make me feel. Sometimes it comes out fun, sometimes scary, sometimes cute, and sometimes ugly. But I love it all. I prefer painting with acrylics on wood. And after the acrylics are laid down, I love to go over everything with black Ink. The black ink brings out the detail and gives the whole painting a better sense of flow.
Resolutions
In my work, I explore the transformative power of abstraction; how color, texture, and form can combine to create something far greater than their individual parts. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, watching my mother paint. She taught me to paint what you know, and how you see and feel it. I add texture that pops off the canvas and tricks the eyes into feeling the bumpy tree trunk. I use my palette knife to paint just as much as my brushes. Unless I’m working on a commission, I rarely know what the end of my painting is going to look like. Experimentation is the most gratifying part of the painting process. Each painting begins with a variety of underpainting techniques, including alcohol ink, mixed media paper, texture, and sometimes oil pastels. After the underpainting sets, I finish my story with oils for a rich finishing layer of depth. The layers of texture invite viewers to see beyond the flat surface of a landscape or portrait. The gold woven into my paintings is a reminder of the beauty and magic found in unexpected places. My inspiration is driven by the colors of nature and the emotions of gratitude. I’d like to think each piece I create will give some warmth and brightness to whoever stands in front of it.
When we face adversity, whether it be loss, failure, or emotional upheaval, we are forced to confront vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It’s in this confrontation that healing and growth occur. Last year was a difficult year personally for me, as I lost my mother to cancer, and I was diagnosed with lymphoma. Through my treatment, I felt so overwhelmed by a range of emotions that eventually inspired my artwork. My current collection symbolizes the unique process of overcoming emotional trauma and evolving into a more resilient, gracious, and powerful version of oneself. Each piece is a visual and sensory narrative of my personal experience, a reflection of both the struggle and the eventual emergence of strength and clarity, or even a simple moment of gratitude for the earth’s gifts we receive. The works share not the grief and despair, but the rebirth and awakening of a new beginning by including imagery that inspires and connects with the viewers. My hope is to encourage, connect, console, and give hope to others who may need comfort in the notion that we are resilient creatures. Collaboratively, the collection of artwork is bright, expansive, full of vibrant colors, fluid lines, and forms that are whole or mended. Lavish underpaintings of mixed media and layers of emotion reflecting my personal evolution and a universal invitation to the audience to see the potential for resilience and hope in their own lives, no matter how difficult their journey may seem. “The Journey of Resilience” is a message of hope, gratitude, and perseverance to anyone sharing the same difficult path in life.
Restful Moment
Freedom is a universal need that resonates deeply with all of us. It encompasses the freedom of speech, the liberty to embrace our true selves, and the empowerment to create from our innermost being.
Ori Gjyli’s, abstract art is born from this longing for liberty. In 2020, amidst a period of isolation, Ori found solace and liberation in the creation of her abstract pieces. With an MFA in Graphics Arts, she made the transition from traditional, precision-based art to a more soul-stirring form of expression.
Driven by a longing to experience the freedom and the euphoria that nature evokes, surrounded by a myriad of colors, her expressive canvases, composed of layers of acrylic paint, portray a personal journey of imagination, embodying creativity and passion. Each stroke and hue encapsulates her boundless creativity and unwavering passion, offering a glimpse into her inner world.
Currently living in Austin, Texas, and having lived, studied, and traveled in four different countries, Ori Gjyli believes that these cultural experiences have enriched her perspective, fostering a deep appreciation for authenticity and the innate beauty that pervades the world around us.
I have always drawn inspiration from the dynamic visual forces of nature and my surroundings. My artwork reflects the beauty and romance of the world around me, capturing my inner emotions, memories, and history. Whether it is a poem, a song, a heartwarming story, or a breathtaking view, I infuse each with vibrant colors and brushstrokes drawn from my memories and imagination. I strive to convey the physical and emotional beauty of the world through my art. My goal is to create evocative abstract paintings that explore the potential of color and form to evoke sensations of energy, emotion, and authenticity.
Rhiannon
Meet Sue Anderson, the creative force behind Susan Locke Photography. Susan is a talented photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty of the world around us. Her work is a celebration of the natural world and the moments that make life special.
Susan’s love of photography began at a young age when she received her first camera as a gift. Over the years, she has honed her skills, experimenting with different techniques and styles to create stunning images that capture the essence of her subjects.
Susan’s photography is characterized by its timeless beauty and attention to detail. Her images are infused with a sense of wonder and awe, and they transport viewers to a world of beauty and tranquility. Whether she is capturing the majesty of a mountain landscape or a surreal world, Susan’s photographs are a testament to the power of art to evoke emotion and inspire us to see the world in new ways.
My dreams and the fantastical world of my imagination serve as the sources of my inspiration. I enjoy capturing the essence of my playful view of the world and transforming it into fun photographic compositions that are both captivating and thought-provoking. I invite the viewer to explore the depths of their imagination and to embrace the surreal and magical aspects of life. I aim to produce magical, enchanted, and wonder-filled images that take viewers to a realm where anything is conceivable.
Rickymae In RED
Nayana LaFond resides in Massachusetts where she is a multimedia artivist working in acrylic on canvas, rebar, glass, concrete, and more to create works that challenge what is considered acceptable in society and spark discussions about change. Nayana has also been a curator for over 20 years including chief curator for the Whitney center for the arts and sits on several boards including Artist Organized Art, Be The Change, and the Native Youth Empowerment Foundation among others.
Rickymae is an activist who lost a close family member.
My rebellion has always been to speak my truth through my art.
In indigenous cultures, we believe that spirits can only see the color red. The possible never-ending painting series I began in 2020 is currently up to 90 portraits to raise awareness about the missing and murdered indigenous people’s crisis. Each is a victim, survivor, activist, or family member of someone who is missing or was murdered and they are all painted in black and white with red being the only visible color. I paint them the way the spirits would see them call the spirits home.
This project began as catharsis for personal experiences, as most of my work is. However, it has evolved into being about healing and medicine for my people. Families now come to me and I paint them or they are loved on for free and give them free prints and exhibit the originals to raise awareness and spark change. I always have a queue of at least 30 and don’t see an end for this project in sight. nayanaarts.com for more informatio
Ride
Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA.
“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.”
Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 463 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 718 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.
Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, and 36 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, & the latest, Artists & Illustrators March 2024. She has been featured in over 350 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.
I am a self-taught artist working in water-based mediums, mainly acrylic, but also at times gouache and watercolor. 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 as they are. The seemingly boring and mundane subjects can truly be like magnets if portrayed in the right light. The 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 artist’s 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.”
Ring
For 3 decades, Peter Hriso has worked as an artist and animator in various positions. He is a Professor of Digital Animation and coordinates the MA in Art and Design program at Kennesaw State University. He imparts his knowledge and expertise to students by teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in animation and motion design.
Peter Hriso has been a dedicated artist and animator for more than three decades, holding various positions in the field. He currently serves as a Professor of Digital Animation at Kennesaw State University, where he also coordinates the MA in Art and Design program. Through his teaching of animation and motion design courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Peter shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise with his students.
My work investigates repetition, modularity, and rhythm within digital space, exploring how simple geometric forms can accumulate into complex architectural landscapes. Using 3D animation software, I construct layered systems of blocks and tiles that balance order with subtle irregularities. The interplay of opaque, translucent, and textured surfaces creates shifting patterns of light and depth, transforming static structures into dynamic visual experiences.
These compositions—ranging from stacked translucent panels to painted cubes and soft, fabric-like blocks—highlight the tension between rigidity and softness, as well as uniformity and variation. Each piece becomes a meditation on structure and fragility, evoking both digital precision and tactile materiality. By abstracting architectural and industrial references into playful, modular forms, I invite viewers to reflect on how repetition and variation shape the environments we inhabit, both in reality and in imagination.