FLOWER
JANUARY 2026
BEST IN SHOW
SHELLEY HOLTZMAN
* THE ORCHID *
Watercolour
“My passion for painting flowers all started with a gift of a floral arrangement. Photographing it up close, I discovered how the slightest movement of the camera created an entirely new composition. I was fascinated by the amazing color and shape of each petal and the creation of a bold composition.”
— SHELLEY HOLTZMAN
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
PAUL J. COLLINS
* NECTAR CAFE *
Photography
“As a botanical photographer my passion for capturing images of plants and flowers goes hand in hand with my interest in growing them. For me though, it is not simply about photographing plants, but capturing something of their natural structure, geometry and symmetry to produce a photograph that has a meaning and a purpose that will engage the viewer’s mind and please the eye. When I venture out with a camera I try to choose those times of the day when the light is most favourable, working with the natural light available. I will seek inspiration, observing everything around me, waiting with expectation for the ‘moment’ to create a successful image. Without intention I would be photographing the passing of time, a brief few seconds in the light and the life of the subject.” — PAUL J. COLLINS
DIAMOND AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
MARJORIE MOSKOWITZ
* SAN JUAN LAVENDER *
Oil
“My current oil paintings of colorful, engaging but otherwise overlooked and isolated flora are magnified to reveal their importance. My subject matter is discovered from remote to obvious locations across the country. Coming from an orientation in abstraction, my choice to work in a close-focus, hyper-realistic style remains ever mindful of the abstraction that exists in nature. These paintings examine mark making and the nuances of color and light in nature. This process involves the close observation of many aspects of landscape and the amplification of these images. They magnify a moment in time and in nature, when plants are at the peak of their reproductive cycle and are fully asserting their seductive beauty/perfection/ splendor/ripeness. The focus has been on select blooms to show the importance of their smallest components.” — MARJORIE MOSKOWITZ
GOLDEN TRIO AWARD
ANNITA APOSTOLIDOU PLATIS
* REMNANT *
* SANCTUM * * VEIL *
Mixed media digital collage
“My work invites the viewer to see art objects, vintage accessories and statement garments not as surface decoration but as a living archive where heritage, care and reverence continue to unfold. The series "Rugs & Reverence" is articulated through two interconnected realms: "Creatures of Memory" and "Objects of Devotion". The submitted works are under the "Objects of Devotion". Floral forms and handcrafted objects become symbolic vessels, carrying personal memory and cultural continuity across time. Drawing from historic textiles, ancient rugs, botanical symbolism and heirloom details, each piece is composed as a quiet act of preservation. Through digital artistry, I re-imagine these objects while honoring their ceremonial presence. They are not simply decorative forms but reflections on what is carried, tended and remembered. Each artwork centers on a devotional object—handcrafted bags of my own design—composed alongside floral symbolism and historic textile references that function as carriers of memory.”
— ANNITA APOSTOLIDOU PLATIS
SAPPHIRE AWARD
A. DEBRA REICH SCHWALM
* MAGNOLIA DIVINE *
Watercolour batik on mulberry paper
“Capturing the light is everything! I love the journey for the next inspiring image and how I can interpret, embellish and re-invent it. I love nature and live in a very rural area of Arizona. When I choose an image, I first observe the drama of the light, color, shadow and reflection. I assess the image by the story or message and how it will look in the batik style. The WATERCOLOR BATIK ON MULBERRY PAPER method is a loose painting technique using watercolor and melted wax as a resist on a tissue thin paper. It emphasizes an energetic texture and a bit of whimsy. The process involves alternating layers of watercolor and wax and there is a progression from light to dark values, each time adding wax to reserve the area after it dried. Once the layering process is complete, the wax is removed and the final art piece is revealed.”
— A. DEBRA REICH SCHWALM
EMERALD AWARD
ERIN ZATRINE
* WHERE A ROSE IS HOPE REMAINS *
Photography
“Flower photography has become my passion. You will find me at flower festivals as well as garden tours taking any opportunity I can to capture floral beauty although I am making a conscious effort to branch out in my subject matter. My intention is to create joy for others through my images.” — ERIN ZATRINE
RUBY AWARD
STEPHANIE GAMBINI
* DAHLIA 12 *
Photography
“Up close, every petal feels like its own little world. I love capturing the light, structure and tiny moments we usually miss before they disappear.” — STEPHANIE GAMBINI
CRYSTAL AWARD
(in random order)
AWARD OF MERIT
(in random order)
(in random order)
HONOURABLE MENTION
(in random order)
FINALISTS
**WINNERS VIDEO**