Congratulations to Angelia Ford, who was voted Artist of the Year for 2012/2013.  Ford is a native Texan from Lubbock, currently residing

Kant or Rand, +32.77789 -96.79348 graphite

in the Dallas area.  She stated that she has always been interested in art and from her journey, one can clearly see that she has been determined in realizing a career in art.  

While working 50 to 60 hours per week with JCPenney's Corporate Headquarters, Angelia Ford managed to take courses toward an Associate Degree in Art, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Richland College in 2008.  Ford continued working towards a BFA in Painting and Drawing at the University of North Texas.  In 2011, just like so many Americans, Ford found herself laid off after working nearly two decades for JCPenney's.  This hardship became her motivation to focus solely on receiving her BFA, which Ford achieved in 2012.  One of Angelia's goals was to teach at the college level which she has enjoyed doing at the Texas Woman's University.  She is currently working on her Masters Degrees in Painting and Art History.

Angelia Ford has been juried into various exhibitions in the area such as Dia de los Muertos 25th Annual Exhibit at the Bath House Cultural Center (2011), 44th Annual VAST National Show at the CVA (2012), and New Texas Talent XIX at Craighead Green Gallery (2012).  She has received First Place Awards in two categories at the Spring Art Competition at Richland College (2008) and Fourth Place at the Voertmans Annual Show (2013) at TWU, as well as receiving the Cecil Fordham Award for Top Art Student (Richland College.)  Ford has exhibited her work at Barnes and Noble, through VAST and has had a solo exhibition of "Catalyst: Stories from the Homeless" at the 010 Gallery at Texas Woman's University. 

The pieces in Ford's latest series are created using Ebony pencil and powdered graphite.  The compositions are strong, with the viewer being drawn into the story through the sensitive eyes of the subject.   Because of the artist's personal journey, she has chosen to delve into those telling or not so telling eyes of the forgotten homeless. 

Angelia's Artist Statement:

I get that a lot, +32.78150 -96.79904, graphite

"It is often said that the majority

of Americans are one or two paychecks away from being homeless. This is a reality that I unwittingly became familiar with after losing my own job of 18 years. I began to notice displaced

individuals and their families. One question always came to mind: how did they get there? That one question led me down the path to tell their stories and to find a way to incorporate them into my art. I began making trips to downtown Dallas to search out individuals who had been banished into this apparently hidden and ignored society. The majority of the general population tends to automatically assume that the homeless are either alcoholics or drug addicts. While this may be true for some of them, I set out to understand their stories of who they are and how they got there.

I realized after researching endless amounts of online data from cities and the federal government that I needed to talk to people, one on one. On my first trip to downtown Dallas I met "John" and struck up a conversation with him and we talked for over 4 hours. I left that night with a heartbreaking story, a journal full of notes, and twenty photographs, feeling more humbled than I ever thought I could be. He never asked for anything from me and within an hour he told me the events that were the catalyst that sent his life spiraling out of control. He was just like you or me, living the American dream. He had a fantastic job, a beautiful house, a wife whom he adored, and a little girl. "Lily" was his everything and to say he adored this little girl was an understatement.  One afternoon he came home to find several fire trucks and paramedics in his yard. His wife was hysterical and his daughter was unresponsive and unable to be saved. The neighbor accidently ran over "Lily" while backing out of the drive. This was his catalyst. He ultimately lost everything, his job, his wife, and most importantly "Lily."

In my drawings I attempt to tell the stories of these often ignored members of society.  I draw the initial sketches with my left hand in order to create a loose interpretation of the subject. I then use my right hand to draw certain elements of the face in realistic detail as a focal point. Since the individuals are homeless I use depth of field for the background to create a hazy, foggy, dark setting.  I interview each person for 3-4 hours trying to understand the reason they became homeless. As a reference point I insert the latitude and longitude of where I spoke to them, this is their home. It is my hope that this collection of work will show a different perspective of the homeless population, and that in the future they are not ignored and are actually seen as people who are attempting to do the best they can, and that they have a story, if only we would take time to listen."  

Sit with me, +32.77984 -96.79930, graphite

 More work by Angelia Ford can be seen at angeliaford.com.

Deadline approaching - all entries due by Sept. 15

Open to all Texas residents

• 1st place:  $500
• 2nd place: $250
• 3rd place:  $125
• 3 Honorable mentions: $50 each

All 6 awards winners to be featured for one year in an online gallery through the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild website.

Glass, fiber, pottery, sculpture, other 3D artists welcome

Can be functional; only exception: wearables: ie. Jewelry and clothing

For more information click here or enter at: www.bastropfineartsguild.com/competitions

Submission Fee:

Non-refundable $30 for 3 Images

Up to 2 extra images for $10 each

We accept only digital file submissions of under 2MB each.

The 6 winning images will be on display in our online annex for one year at the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild website.

Park Cities Presbyterian Church

PCPC's 2013 Juried Art Show: 

"Justice and Mercy: Micah 6:8" Themed Show

Deadline:  September 30, 2013

Art Delivery Date: October 19

Entry Fee: $35 for first piece, $10 for optional 2nd piece

Awards: Top works in each category receive blue ribbons.

Three "Best of Theme" winners receive $1,000 each.

"Viewer's Choice" will receive $500.

Three themes: 1. Live Justly  2.  Love Mercy  3. Walk Humbly with your God.

For all show rules, awards, jurors, and registration: http://www.pcpcartsfestival.com  

Hunting Art Prize call for entries!

November 30, 2013 Deadline

$50,000 Prize up for Grabs!

The competition is open to artists who are legal residents of Texas and at least 18 years of age. Artwork submitted for consideration must be a single two-dimensional painting or drawing not exceeding 72 inches on any side (including frame, if any).

For questions, email info@huntingartprize.com. For further details on submission criteria, terms, and conditions, visit www.huntingartprize.com.