|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
2006 Festival Poster is Celebration of Smiles and Strawberries |
|
|
“It’s mine, all mine,” was the feeling Carlsbad artist Sandra Gilmore translated on canvas with her watercolor and colored pencil painting of a country girl coveting a bowl of succulent strawberries to win the 2006 California Strawberry Festival Poster Contest. Selected as top pick from 78 entries from throughout the Golden State, the colorful image showcasing the Festival will grace collectible T-shirts, posters and merchandise for this year’s May 19, 20, 2007 event. At a recent award ceremony attended by the Festival Executive board, Oxnard Mayor Thomas Holden, civic leaders and media, Gilmore was awarded $1,500 for the coveted honor while remarking that, “I feel fortunate to be involved with the Festival to help play a part in supporting its mission of giving back to the community.” Recognition of $300 went to Simi Valley’s own Scott Jeffers (2nd place) and Joy Lomenick (third place). The design is reflective of a country picnic, framed in a checkerboard border of red and white with strawberry and heart accents. Peeking through the border to command the forefront, a young girl in a “berryesque” summer dress beams with a smile of happiness and contentment while grasping a bowl of strawberries. The background of strawberry fields and a farmhouse adds depth to complement the country feel. “Strawberries are my favorite fruit and I’ve attended the Festival for years,” says Gilmore. “I wanted to express the joy kids feel when they come to the Festival with all the rides and contests and strawberry foods. I gave my little girl a touch of bliss that comes from having all these ripe strawberries to herself, like a treasure. The idea was built around the feeling of a farm stand because I think it’s important that people remember to stay connected with the fields and those that work hard to bring us the fruits we enjoy.” A professional artist whose stitch-painted Needlepoint designs are distributed throughout the US, Canada and Australia, Gilmore has also designed posters for the foundation of musical artist Josh Groban with sales benefiting inner city kids, orphanages in Africa, and others in need like victims of Hurricane Katrina. She started drawing when she was two and a supportive high school teacher gave her hope of a career in art. After earning a bachelors degree in art from Cal State Northridge, she furthered her studies at ARTCenter in Pasadena and Otis/Parsons in Los Angeles, exploring different mediums in jewelry, sculpting, woodworking, and air brushing, in addition to watercolor and oils. Artist submissions for consideration for the 24th Annual California Strawberry Festival will begin in August 2006 with an entry deadline of January 2007. Information will be available at this website or by calling the Festival office at 805/ 385-4739.Buy the Poster Our Online Poster Gallery |
|
||
Festival | Information | Vendors & Volunteers | Sponsors | Pressroom | Contact Us |
|||
