We just announced the winners of our art prizes giveaway, thank you to all the participants, you are what makes this project special 🙂

We will let you know soon the deadline for our next giveaway, with even more prizes by our sponsors. You are entered automatically by participating in the Big Picture.

Artist Network Prize :  R.H.

Country: Japan

The Story behind my drawing:

When I was in a middle school, my mom made me “obento”, which means lunch box in Japanese, every day. She never forgot or missed to prepare this for 4 years even though she was busy enough doing other work. I had a lot of concerns and conflicts about my friendship or studying, but I remembered that because of this heartful “obento” I could enjoy my school life. This art symbolizes my mom’s deep love and my appreciation toward her. I will never forget this wonderful memory, and I always think that I want to be a woman like my mom who kindly support others in the future.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

Vancouver gives me a great environment and opportunity to learn how to be a global citizen, and how I can contribute to the society or the world.

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

RH wins a free ebook from the Artists Network.

PanPastel Prize #1 : Leah Currie

Country: USA

The Story behind my drawing:

My drawing is a display of my life story. While not in chronological order it can be read from any angle and its meaning is left up for interpretation. The chaotic tone of the piece seeks to express my childhood trauma and the uncertainties that life has woven into this chapter of mine. Though my beginnings were not humble experiences with the world and with those in my community has led me to feel humbled and a sense of compassion for others suffering. If you look closely you can read all of the insults I have been lashed with. No label will define me instead I will be a beacon of resilience.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

My grandfather is a Canadian citizen. So I have a lot of fondness for the country as a whole and a sense of compassion and appreciation for art encourage me to wish to visit!

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Leah wins 1 pan pastels sets with 5 colors of your choice, a tray and a soft tools starter set

Pan Pastel Prize #2 : Mary Hammel

Country: USA

The Story behind my drawing:

I have been a cancer survivor since 1992, after a successful bone marrow transplant for leukemia. My visceral experience with cancer has led my interest into mapping and interpreting my experiences involving place. Here I have delineated an intimate point of view of my body being not only invaded by the vicious cancer cells in my blood but also examined relentlessly by machines and doctors. My body was on edge from both, and I felt invaded. I am thankful every day that I am a cancer survivor, thanks to the generosity of my brother JP and his life-saving bone marrow.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

I love nature photography, hiking, and architecture, so Vancouver is a place that I would like to visit someday.

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Mary wins 1 pan pastels sets with 5 colors of your choice, a tray and a soft tools starter set

Strathmore Prize:  Yoonsun Lee

Country: Korea

The Story behind my drawing:

This picture is when I ride bus first time in Canada. I was little bit afraid. I worried that if I rode wrong bus, so I lost way, but I rode successfully. I was so happy and proud myself. Korea bus and Canada Bus is so different. When the night, Canada bus light is blue, also, seat arrangement is different. Korea does not have any facing seats. All are facing the front seats in the bus. Now, I can ride bus freely.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

I like environment of Vancouver. Clean air and many trees make me happy.

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Yoonsun wins 1 Strathmore Sketchbook 9 x 12 inches and a Copic Multiliner set of inking pens

Copic Prize : Shannon Emmanuel

Country: Canada

The Story behind my drawing:

This is our dog, Cleo. She is a Carahoula Leopard dog rescued from a Texas high-kill shelter. She is now living a quiet country life with a big family of human sisters and today is cozied up on the couch while the winds storm outside and the kids are asleep in their beds.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

Vancouver is my second home. The greenery, water and city have such a beautiful relationship that it inspires me rain or shine.

Find my work at:
http://www.instagram.com/daydreamerillustrations

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Shannon wins 1 Strathmore Sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5 inches and 1 Copic Multiliner set of inking pens

Speedball Prize #1: Lilianne Milgrom

Country: United States

The Story behind my drawing:

I am often questioning my existence, my purpose, my goals, my destiny, my motivations, my relationships. When I look at goats, they seem to have a particularly ‘clueless’ expression that suggests that their concerns are anything but philosophical! I sometimes think we’d be better off not thinking so much..

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

A french song, the other side of the world to me…

North, far north, lies a place called Vancouver. I once met an artist from Vancouver when I was in Romania. The image I have in my mind is of good people, good clean air, green, lots of green. It seems to be one of the last strongholds of goodness and clean living left on earth. Maybe I don’t want to find out if it’s true or not…I’d rather continue to cling to that belief.

Find my work at:
http://www.liliannemilgrom.com

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Lilianne wins one Strathmore Watercolor paper pad- 12 sheets cold press and a Speedball Sketching set.

Speedball Prize #2: Jesse Taylor

Country: United States

The Story behind my drawing:

In the Summer of 2013 I was at a lake house party/sleep over. In the morning me and three friends were all hungover and wandered down to the dock of the lake. We all three laid on the dock in the sun contemplating and feeling the heat and wind. The lake was alive with hundreds of blue dragonflies mating. The entire surface of the lake was buzzing with activity. This is one important moment for me in awakening to a larger connectedness of nature and the universe. In drawing I use some automatic methods tapping into subconscious to get most of the mass of line and shapes. Then I will often coax out what starts to look like landscape or celestial imagery and in this case I inserted a human profile and eye giving the abstraction context relating to vision as well as mind.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

I live in Portland Oregon so relatively close to Vancouver! We have a small Vancouver also just over the Columbia river. Id love to visit your Vancouver someday. We are connected by a coastline and ocean. Looking at a map I imagine a sea voyage from Portland to Vancouver would be most spectacular.

Find my work at:
http://albinodragonfly8.weebly.com/

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Jesse wins one Strathmore Watercolor paper pad- 12 sheets cold press and a Speedball Sketching set.

Speedball Prize #3: Komachi Goto

Country: scotland

The Story behind my drawing:

This is drawing of my father. my father became forgetful several years ago and to combat memory loss, my mother planned and conducted daily excises for him. every morning, my father’s day start with scaling his weight, to write down his weight on calendar to recognize the date, then physical exercise to loosen his body by stretching and light exercise. then he will sit down to start his brain exercise, he will read out loud and write down few classic poems, then a page of math calculation, which takes about 20 minutes or so. I had been drawing my father while he does those exercise. my father is not aware that I am drawing him, he is concentrated to solve his assignment before breakfast. sometime he moves lots, itching and been uncomfortable. by drawing him everyday, I could tell his mood and condition better than by asking him as his response is not always accurate to his condition. thanks to my mother, his forgetful ness has been paused rather than becoming more forgetful.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

I was born in Japan and lives in Edinburgh Scotland. Vancouver is still the land of mystery to me, I have visited other side of Canada once before in my life, but not he Vancouver yet, I can not imagine what is it like to be in the city in the North America, the scale must be unimaginable. I do feel both Japan and UK are just so opposite as both countries are an island.. it does fascinate me and tingle my curiosity every time I hear ” Vancouver” and I wonder how life goes there.

Find my work at:
https://komachi.weebly.com

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Komachi wins one Speedball fountain pen

Speedball Prize #4: Gail Grow

Country: United States

The Story behind my drawing:

for the past ten years, my husband and I have escaped the snow and ice of the Northwestern winter and traveled to Florida. this year we have had several health challenges that have kept us at home. At first I chomped at the bit and rued my fate. But then I discovered the rewards of being housebound. I’ve been able to spend time dong all the things I love to do, but don’t have enough time for in my usual, busy life – cooking, reading, knitting, writing and making music and art. Every morning I turn on the heat in my studio, enjoy coffee and the paper and then spend a glorious couple of hours making art. My painting and drawing have both improved. But I do miss our Florida getaway, so I’ve been drawing quick sketches from my pictures. I have a soft spot in my heart for seagulls and have taken many pictures of them. This fine fellow posed proudly for my picture and was worthy of a sketchbook page.

My connection to #Vancouver or what Vancouver evokes to me:

My son participated in the BC Bike Race in 2016 and my husband and I were groupies for several of the stages. The race is a 7 day single track mountain bike race that begins in North Vancouver and in 2016 ended in Whistler. It is a grueling endeavor and not all of the 650 participants finish. My son did and I was so very proud of him…of the strength of his will and the size of his heart. He is doing it again this year and we will again be his groupies in beautiful British Columbia.

SEE THIS DRAWING ON THE BIG PICTURE

Gail wins one Speedball sketching set 

Once again congratulations to all participating artists, this project would not exist without you !