Grey Cube Gallery proudly presents the third Forests & Meadows online art show for the month of December 2022. The show encompassed a range of artistic styles and mediums (oil on canvas, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, ink, photography, digital). Each submission has been judged based on the following elements of artistic expression: orginality and quality of art, overall design, creativity, interpretation of the theme, demonstration of artistic ability and usage of medium. Out of all entries, 106 artworks were shortlisted for inclusion in the show. The competition attracted entries from many countries across the world: USA, Poland, Austria, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Germany Taiwan, Australia, Switzerland and Singapore. Enjoy the show and thank you for expressing an interest in our competition.

Trees are at the center of her creations. This artist draws her inspiration from the authenticity of the forest. Soaking up sounds, textures and smells, Chantal is guided by the way light, colors and shapes interact in harmony with nature. Through her wooded universe, Chantal hopes to encourage people to live in connection with nature, and especially to respect it. An awareness that we are all interrelated to this grandiose nature, which can bring us so many benefits.

I live in the Sourlands mountain region of central New Jersey, a rich and diverse landscape characterized by mature forest and pastoral passes amid farmland, native grass, and wetlands. This special area is the inspiration for much of my work. Through the medium of soft pastels, the unique qualities of the Sourlands comes to life. My focus is on early morning light as it illuminates the roads, fields and trees, water and the sky. I love walking out my door, up my driveway to the ridge and along the road tunneled by trees out into the light. It is magical – the power of light and sense of space. That feeling is what I try to capture in my paintings.

Enchanted by the world we live in and it’s beauty, I continually explore, learn, observe, discover and engage my imagination. My artwork reflects this journey in that it allows me to share my experiences with others in a way that hopefully captivates them by stimulating thought, feelings and emotion. I primarily paint in oils with the objective of making my paintings realistic and believable. The selection of subject matter for my art is generally prompted by an inspiration that stimulates my creativity. This could be a memory, an experience, a face, or a gaze at a mesmerizing sky. Before I begin a painting or drawing, I visualize the finished piece on display, and then I approach each step with the intent of making that vision a reality.

I have always loved walking through the woods in awe of the natural world around me. These unique objects are composed by nature, time, and conditions that reveal a wonderfully beautiful but unappreciated natural world. The aesthetic beauty of leaves, diverse in types, shapes and colors, combined with elements of earth, water and stone, are my artistic inspiration and the reason I return. Frank Lloyd Wright said it best: “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” While the foliage of woodland trees keeps me returning to the natural world, it’s the beautiful organic lines, the rich earth colors, the dramatic lighting, and the interesting textures that keep me there. I love to hear the sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the smell of rich moist soil, and an overall feeling of tranquility while walking through the woods. Nature does not stand still but I strive to capture the special moments of beauty, of absolute wonder, and serenity of nature in my still life artworks.