"Show Us Your Best" - Art Contest Winners

On the 12th of July, Itis Me launched an amazing art competition - the "Show Us Your Best" art competition. The competition had an original prize pool of 100K Gold, but as the entries flooded in Itis increased this to a whopping 170K Gold! All in all, with a few "ties" in the final winner totals, the total prize pool came in at 187K Gold.

This is the second time Itis has run this contest, and this time, as witih the last... heralded an amazing outpouring of incredible art from the SmallWorlds art community.

Here's the link to her original forum thread - where she details all the entry requirements...and the amazing prizes! The 12 member judging panel have now completed their difficult task, and I'm here with the results!

I can only imagine the difficulty in choosing 15 paintings, but then having to rank those same 15... well it would have been enough to make me break out into a cold sweat!

Itis Me and Ruby Rush together at the gorgeous entraceway within the "Show Us Your Best Competition" Showcase Gallery

I was so impressed with the art on show that I emailed the link to the three contest gallery floors to all SWHQ staff. I know that everyone who has visited to date has been hugely impressed. You'll defintely want to visit the Competition Showcase Gallery - where you can see all the winning paintings displayed. It is just packed with greart art.

The Top 4!

Due to space limitations, we onyl have space to show you a few of the winners, but you can see all the 15 winners displayed in Itis Me's latest forum thread - view them by clicking here. My congratulations to all the competition winners - a simply stupendous display of talent!

Viola Fats - Warm Glow - Wins 30K Gold


Bavi Bav - Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Wins 20K Gold

Chellie Bean - Bee on Blue Flower - Wins 18K Gold

Idda Ratherbehomoe - Casted Away - Wins 20K Gold (includes peoples choice award winnings)

A short interview with Itis Me

Ruby: What a massive prize pool! Your love of the SmallWorlds art community is very obvious, Itis. What do you hope to achieve through your fantastic art competitions / what delights you about them?

Itis: When I first started , I took part in a contest very much like this one. I remember how wonderful it felt to be a part of something soo big & I got to see & meet many other artists I want others to have the same opportunity:) And, every time I hold one of these contests, I hear people talk about all the new artists they have never heard of , so its a great way to get to know the artists out there:)

Ruby: Can you give me just a few of the other judges comments during and even after the judging process?

Itis: The main thing I heard from all of the judges is how difficult it was to narrow down the choices. many took the entire 5 days to make their choices!!!

Ruby: What will happen to the art in the Gallery... is it staying as a permanent gallery or are the artists goign to be removing their work?

Itis: The art will be on permanent Display in The Showcase gallery. Last years winners will be moved to the second floor & this years will be proudly displayed on the 1st floor!!!!

Ruby: Will you be running another "Show Us Your Best" competition in the future?

Itis: I plan to try & hold one of these contests every year. I would love to do more but with the expense of it, I can only afford once yearly :)

Ruby: Many thanks again Itis, on behalf of the entire SmallWorlds community!