We shipped the much-anticipated April "Pastel 100" issue off to the printer last Thursday. It's 100 pages of amazing art—the results of our 9th annual competition. (Perhaps you heard the staff's collective sigh of relief when that issue went out the door?!) While we await this official "broadcast" of the year's top winners, I thought I might go ahead and give our blog readers a sneak peek at some of the year's honorable mention winners. In a contest that pulls in nearly 5,000 entries, to be among the 70 honorable mentions is a mighty accomplishment. So, here's a look at the prize-winning work of five artists who achieved this impressive distinction:

In the Animal & Wildlife category, David Wells' painting Burba (20x28) is a fine example of engaging animal portraiture.














In the Still Life & Floral category, Jaye Schlesinger turns the ordinary extraordinary in her pastel White Door, No. 2 (8x8).


















In the Abstract & Non-Objective category, the floral-inspired abstract Arched Patterns-Japanese Magnolias (18x12) won an honorable mention for artist Marcia Holmes.




















The rich color in Paul Murray's landscape, Watermelon Mountain Glow (16x10), adds to an already attention-grabbing composition.


























Theresa Deseve's painting, Grace (28x17), is the kind of portrait that stirs emotion.

You'll find these and 95 other award-winning pastels (as well as guidelines for the 10th annual Pastel 100 competition) in the April issue. Be sure to look for it on our website February 19 or on newsstands beginning March 11.