Oil on linen, 24×36″
$20,000

Best of Show, Lake Oswego Art Festival’s 2022 Artists Vision Show!

First Place Award, Oil Painters of America’s Spring Online Show! https://www.dianerussell.net/oil-painters-of-america-spring-show-1st-place/

Certificate of Merit, NY Figurative Show, Salmagundi Club NYC!  https://www.dianerussell.net/ny-figurative-show-certificate-of-merit/

Finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s Members Only Competition! https://www.dianerussell.net/portrait-society-of-america-2021-finalist/

Best of Show and the People’s Choice awards at the Oregon Society of Artists Fall Juried Show 2021! https://www.dianerussell.net/blog/

Artist comment:  “2020 was a difficult year for everyone, and artists are no exception.  I had been missing live music terribly, and one day early in July (when the Waterfront Blues Festival usually happened) I was walking to the store and walked right into one of the Blues Festival’s eight traveling concerts which they had put together especially for Covid times.  I hadn’t expected to see this concert, and to say I needed this is an understatement.  I took as many photos as I could from about half a block away, and managed to have enough photos to compose my painting.  “Covid Blues” pretty much sums up this year of no art shows and no live music.  Somehow the music finds a way to be heard, and the art gets created.  I’m glad I was able to document this historical time in a way that made sense to me… with music.  The painting features the Bayou Boys (Dave Kahl, Steve Kerin, Brian Foxworth, Jimmy Russell, Dan Berkery) plus special guest Arietta Ward, who said the painting makes them all look like super heroes.  And she’s right… they are!”