I am in awe of the amazing wealth of artistic talent in North America. I was reminded of this last month, when we gathered to jury The Artful Home Portfolio Competition, our second juried competition to find original two-dimensional artwork from which to create giclee prints.

Our noted juror, David Ross (former director of the Whitney Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston), selected ten finalists from among hundreds of works submitted. What a difficult job! The wide range of techniques (from photography to watercolor, oils, acrylics, to collage, and so much more), was only matched by the wide range of subject matter and images.

Just as interesting was the breadth of artist backgrounds. Emerging artists were put side by side with established artists. There were professionals from other fields (doctors!), and mothers working at home to raise their children and create when time allows. All are compelled to make art, and are seeking a wider audience through our competition.

Now, it’s your turn to play juror. I invite you to visit The Artful Home Portfolio Competition online and vote for the image that speaks to you. Public voting will close on May 27, and your vote will help us determine which winning images will be turned into giclee art prints and featured for sale through our website and catalogs. Help us select the winner!