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First Place Drawing
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First Place Painting Michael Harding Art Materials, Signilar Art Videos, Natural
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Olga Krimon
Brooke Olivares Hermosa Beach, CA
Sarasota, FL Yin and Yang, charcoal and graphite, 18 x 24" (46 x 61 cm)
Carlotta Olivares, oil on canvas, 36 x 36" (91 x 91 cm)
My Inspiration: The boy in my drawing is a son of a family
My Inspiration: This painting is part of an ongoing friend, and it is a portrayal of a relationship between a boy
series of works started two years ago based on my and his dog. One completing another, one relying on another.
93-year-old grandmother, Nana. Most of the paintings There is that calm trust and complete devotion of an animal,
about Nana are based on her daily routine in and and the security of a boy leaning over him. This portrait was
around her home and the quality moments she about experimenting with textures, the softness of the boy’s
spends with my sister in the kitchen making tortillas skin, the fur of the dog, the fabrics of the pillows and the sofa.
and preparing food from the garden. Although
Carlotta’s mobility is limited to a wheelchair, her mind My Path to Art: I trained very hard at art school in Kazan for
is not. In this particular painting I wanted to depict four straight years, through many still lifes, plaster casts, art
her deep in thought on the couch. history exams and so on. But I stopped creating art as soon
as I received my diploma—I thought, enough of the still lifes
My Path to Art: I have always loved to draw and already! I didn’t know any contemporary artists in Russia,
paint and was extremely fortunate to have parents so the prospect of an art career didn’t even cross my mind.
who always encouraged me to pursue art. My sister I received my MBA and established a successful career in IT
and I both had a love for art at a very early age, and consulting. It was at that point I realized, art was my singular
they always took us to art classes together and we had desire and I worked diligently over the next few years on my
each other for support. I had many outstanding art technique. I love the very process of creating art, be that a
teachers and later enrolled at the Ringling College of drawing or a painting. I love the fact that the more I learn and
Art and Design where I received a BFA in illustration. work on improving myself, the more I see that I need to reach
I currently teach there as an adjunct instructor. and the bigger the art world becomes.

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