Artist MaiYap explores her identity as an Asian woman in the series Reflection on Awakening. Her experience living as a minority in Panama, and then later, in Florida, formed a fear of being different. Then, when racism and hate crimes against Asian Americans began to increase—particularly during the pandemic—she turned to painting to rediscover her identity. This resulted in a collection of abstract oil paintings featuring the steadfast lily pad.

This subject holds special meaning to MaiYap. “Lily pads represent all that I love about Chinese culture: beauty and perseverance,” MaiYap tells My Modern Met. “As you notice I decided to portray only lily pads but not the flowers. In choosing so, I wanted to bring awareness to the Chinese community’s struggles past and present. This flower can grow even in mud and adverse conditions, so the absence of it means that my own personal self-discovery is still in process, emerging slowly from inside me.”

MaiYap used a palette knife to add numerous layers and textures to the canvas. The lily pads are not just green, but also yellow, white, and red. Even their reflections in the water possess an array of colors. The inherent loveliness of these renderings highlights the grace of Chinese culture while also drawing attention to the importance of nature. “My work is about finding ways to bring awareness,” MaiYap adds. “Is a soft art activism. Soft, because I always prefer to lure with beauty as means to bring a message.”

Scroll down to see more paintings, and follow MaiYap on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest work.

Artist MaiYap creates dreamy depictions of lily pads.

She renders each piece using a palette knife and oil paint.

In this way, she captures the textures and colors of a lily pond.

These paintings of lily pads represent the beauty and perseverance of Chinese culture.

MaiYap uses her art to explore her identity as an Asian woman living as a minority in the U.S.

MaiYap: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by MaiYap.

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READ: Abstract Lily Pad Paintings Symbolize the Beauty and Perseverance of Chinese Culture

Animals become one with their environment in Sujay Sanan‘s watercolor paintings. The South Africa-based artist uses the silhouettes of foxes, birds, and other creatures as the frames for realistic depictions of natural landscapes, reversing the way animals blend into their habitats.

You can purchase limited edition prints via Sanan's website.

South Africa-based artist Sujay Sanan creates stunning watercolor paintings inspired by nature.

He artfully merges landscapes with the silhouettes of animals.

These unique pieces reverse the idea of an animal blending in with its habitat.

These paintings also highlight the connection between animals and their environment.

Sujay Sanan: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Sujay Sanan.

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Years before we had cameras, people relied on artists and their work to capture the world around them. This resulted in a tradition of exquisite botanical illustrations, in which painters and draftspeople painstakingly rendered every detail that they saw into two-dimensional form. The book Fungi Collected in Shropshire and Other Neighbourhoods is an example of this art form. Created in the 19th century by a woman author, it faithfully follows her archival journey of England and Wales's numerous fungi species—traveling much further than the title initially suggests.

The project itself is divided into three dense volumes. Lewis—whom we know very little about—spent over 40 years (from 1860 to 1902) wandering her country and sketching the mushrooms that she came across. It should come as no surprise that she ended up with hundreds of illustrations from her efforts, all made with pencil and filled in with delicate layers of watercolor. Sometimes, just two drawings are placed on a page, while other spreads feature several fungi that have been collaged together. Accompanying each piece is a hand-written note of what species it is.

Despite the incredible efforts that went into this book, it appears as though it was a self-initiated project which Lewis worked on across her lifetime. The only known volumes are hand-drawn and hand-bound, suggesting they were the only copies made. Even so, historians believe that Lewis likely had some formal training in decorative illustration, most likely in an unrelated field, and then applied her passion for plant life and science to her carefully crafted books.

You can browse all volumes of Lewis's book on the Internet Archive.

A vintage 19th-century book titled Fungi Collected in Shropshire and Other Neighbourhoods documents the biodiversity of mushrooms in England.

It was written and illustrated by a female author named F.M. Lewis over the course of over 40 years (1860–1902).

The watercolor and ink illustrations capture fungi that Lewis found across Endlang and Wales.

The project is divided into three densely packed volumes. Many pages include several species collaged together.

The only known copy of the book belongs to the Cornell University Library and the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

h/t: [Open Culture, The Public Domain Review]

All images via the Internet Archive.

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Sometimes the greatest muses are just a hike away. England-based artist Olivia Seetim finds the subjects for her paintings in the varied beauty of her natural surroundings. From verdant forests to open meadows, these acrylic landscape paintings immortalize a certain time and place.

Although Seetim has a background in numerous types of media, she gravitated towards acrylics in 2020 and began sharing her work soon after. Her small canvases contain tender portrayals of places devoid of people, offering immersive visual escapes for the viewer. “The feelings conjured by nature are a great source of inspiration for me,” Seetim explains to My Modern Met. ‘For me, this includes a sense of safety and familiarity, but also adventure and curiosity. These are things I like to make sure are always present in my work.”

While many of these paintings depict daytime with a bright blue sky, others are accompanied by starry nights and a full moon. “The landscapes that inspire me the most range from dense forests to vast expanses of ocean,” she continues. “Also, astrophotography is something I deeply admire, and is where I get a lot of my ideas for galaxy landscapes.” Each of these pieces, though different, communicates the power and grandeur of the environment, and the respect we should have for it.

You can purchase original paintings via Seetim's website, and keep up to date with her latest projects by following the artist on Instagram.

England-based artist Olivia Seetim captures idyllic landscapes in acrylic.

Her colorful paintings depict bucolic forests and meadows during the day as well as at night.

Olivia Seetim: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Olivia Seetim.

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Photo: Khara Woods
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If you’re creating amazing art but struggling to gain exposure, art contests are a great opportunity for publicity. And if you’re living the infamous “starving artist” lifestyle, this is also a way to pull yourself out of a rough spot by potentially winning cash prizes, allowing you to gain an extra financial boost towards your dream creative projects.

There are loads of different competitions out there, from world-renowned painting contests to inspiring digital art challenges, that will place you in the art world. With so much to choose from, we’ve created a guide to help you decide which visual arts competitions are best suited to you and your artistic talents. Depending on your eligibility, you can try for these annual awards year after year.

Ready to show off your art to the world? Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.

Painting Competitions

Photo: Daian Gan

Watermedia Showcase

Prize: $2,500 first prize, $1,250 second prize.
Entry Fee: $35 ($30 before February 6, 2023).
Requirements: Open to international artists 18 years of age and older.
Closing Date: April 11, 2023

The Watermedia Showcase awards original art created primarily with water-based media (watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, or egg tempera) on a surface created for water media. Judged by the editors of Watercolor Artist, all winners, and honorable mentions will have their work featured in the magazine.

Enter now

Jackson's Painting Prize

Prize: £6,000 first prize
Entry Fee: £5 per entry.
Requirements: Open to international artists of all ages.
Closing Date: March 1, 2023

Jackson's Painting Prize was created to reward excellence in two-dimensional works of fine art. Both painting and drawing media are accepted and in addition to the main prize, there are also awards for emerging artists, best watercolor, and people's choice. Entries open December 1, 2022 and close March 1, 2023.

Enter now

Digital Art Contests

Photo: Howard Lawrence B

The Lumen Prize for Digital Art

Prize: $4,000 first prize, with a $13,500 total prize fund.
Entry Fee: $40 for two works ($32 for two works if submitted prior to March 24).
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: June 3, 2023

This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. The contest guidelines are relatively loose—the only requirement is that the submitted artworks must somehow engage with technology. Categories include Still, Moving Image, XR, 3D/Interactive and Artificial Intelligence. In 2023, there is even an award for NFT art. Several awards categories are also rewarded with artist residencies and exhibitions in addition to the cash prize.

Find out more.

animago Award

Prize: €3,000 cash prize for Best Young Production, all nominees provided lodging and tickets to animago.
Entry Fee: Free
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

For over 20 years the prestigious animago Award competition has spotlighted talent in the fields of 3d animation and stills, visual effects, visualization, and design. Organized by the German magazine Digital Production, all winners are announced during a gala at the annual animago conference in Munich, Germany. Though, due to the pandemic, animago has not taken place since 2019, artists are still encouraged to submit their work for the next time that the conference occurs.

Enter now

Illustration Contests

Photo: rawpixel

World Illustration Awards

Prize: A cash prize of £2,000 and more publicity opportunities.
Entry Fee: £29 (approximately $33)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: February 14, 2023

Anyone who’s into illustration is bound to have heard of the prestigious World Illustration Awards. Illustrators are invited to submit work created or published since January 2018 to 8 different categories. Winners will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also be awarded invaluable global exposure, such as a marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, a feature in a major exhibition in central London, and an invitation to the Awards Evening in October.

Enter now

Society of Illustrators Annual Competition

Prize: Medals, work published in a full-color catalog and displayed in an exhibition.
Entry Fee: $20 for members ($35 for non-members)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

The Society of Illustrators Annual Competition is known as the premier showcase for illustrators and animators. Open to artists worldwide, work can be entered in one of the six categories: Editorial, Book, Advertising, Institutional, Uncommissioned, and Surface/ Product Design. The selected entries will be exhibited at the Society of Illustrators’ gallery in New York City and be printed in full color in their annual catalog. In addition to the entry fee, there is a hanging/publication fee of $90 for non-members and $80 for members.

Enter now

Drawing Contests

Photo: Stock Photos from Iuliia Tarabanova/Shutterstock

Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize
Entry Fee: $45 ($35 before March 22, 2021)
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada.
Closing Date: April 29, 2023

The Strokes of Genius Competition celebrates original work made in drawing mediums; including pencil, charcoal, Conté crayon, pen and ink, scratchboard, silverpoint, colored pencil, pastels, and even some wet paint mediums if used in a linear or sketchy manner. Winning entries plus an additional 85+ finalists will be published in a special edition publication, The Best of Drawing, from the editors of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

General Art Contests

Photo: Pixabay via Pexels

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

Prize: Over $29,000 in cash prizes and publication in Artists Magazine.
Entry Fee: $40 ($35 if submitted before April 3)
Requirements: Open to artists over 18 worldwide working in a traditional medium.
Closing Date: May 30, 2023

Artists Magazine’s Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, digital art, and much more. Winners will be chosen from a variety of categories including Portrait/Figure, Still Life, Landscape, Abstract, and Animal/Wildlife.

Along with generous cash prizes, this contest provides a huge opportunity to gain exposure—all winners’ work will be featured in the January/February 2023 issue of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

The Sunny Art Prize

Prize: A total cash fund of £6,000 plus a month-long art residency in China, and a solo exhibition in London.
Entry Fee: £25 for one artwork, up to £45 for four artworks.
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide age 18 and over.
Closing Date: June 30, 2023

One of the most inclusive and diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists. Winners will be granted an opportunity to have their work shown in an exhibition in London, and develop their work during a month-long residency in China. A £6,000 (approximately $7,600) total cash prize will be split between the first three winning artists.

The art contest accepts entries in a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramic art, printmaking, installation art, mixed media, video art, and photography.

Enter now

Made in California Competition

Prize: $750 first prize, $500 second prize.
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Requirements: Open to artists based in California.
Closing Date: February 16, 2023

Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the Made in California Competition provides a promotional opportunity for all artists based in the state of California. All mediums will be considered. And, in addition to the juried competition, there is also a solo show opportunity for artists who submit a body of work containing 5-10 pieces (the entry for the solo show is $80, and the prize is $350).

Enter now

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: 10 of the Best Art Competitions to Enter in 2023

Photos: Cincinnati Art Museum

During a routine inspection of the Cincinnati Art Museum’s cherished Paul Cézanne work titled Still Life with Bread and Eggs, chief conservator Serena Urry noticed something “odd.” What she found lying beneath the surface is a secret that has remained hidden for almost 160 years.

No work is safe from time, and for this still life piece from 1865, cracking in the paint is expected. However, Urry noticed that these cracks were concentrated in two particular areas, instead of spread throughout the canvas. And, underneath those cracks, starkly contrasting against the painting’s dark color palette, lay glimmers of bright white. The conservator called in a team from a local medical company to take scans of the oil painting with a portable X-ray machine. After piecing together the scans in Photoshop, Urry saw “blotches of white,” meaning there was much more lead white paint than she initially thought. “I was trying to figure out what the heck they were… then I just turned it [90 degrees],” she recalled. “I was all alone but I think I said ‘wow' out loud.”

Hidden behind the bread in the painting and only shown through scans, a figure appears in white and black splotches. A face quietly hovers behind the glass and a shoulder stealthily extends beyond it, both buried beneath a moody dark background. And what’s even more exciting—it could be a portrait of the artist himself. “I think everyone's opinion is that it's a self-portrait,” explains Urry. “He's posed in the way a self-portrait would be: in other words, he's looking at us, but his body is turned.” She further explained that if it was a portrait of someone else, the subject would most likely be fully turned toward the audience. If this mysterious portrait is indeed of Cézanne, it would be one of the earliest depictions we have of the artist, who was in his mid-20s at the time. As well, it would be one of the few self-portraits not completed in pencil.

Peter Jonathan Bell, the museum's curator of European paintings, sculpture, and drawings, explained that they are actively researching and working to solve the mysterious history of this piece. “This will include collaborating with Cézanne experts around the world to identify the sitter, and undertaking further imaging and technical analysis to help us understand what the portrait would have looked like and how it was made,” Bell states. “Stitched together, this information may add to our understanding of a formative moment in the early career of this great artist.”

During the early part of Cézanne’s career, he used a realist style of painting, as seen in Still Life with Bread and Eggs. But later on, informed by Impressionism, the artist formed a more colorful palette. During the mid-1860s, he also experimented with a coarse painting style by using a palette knife to apply paint.

Many questions that have been raised from looking behind the top coat of paint, including what colors Cézanne used and how complete the portrait is. The question that seems to be asked the most, though, is why? Some have speculated the portrait was an experiment gone wrong, while others have suggested the painter needed to save money by reusing an old canvas. Urry suggests the artist had a sudden spark of inspiration and just “needed a canvas,” explaining, “It's pretty clear that he didn't scrape it down.”

In order to answer these questions, Urry says, “We're hoping to reach out to colleagues in the conservation and curatorial worlds to see if we can get access to other equipment.” If the piece undergoes a series of more advanced scanning processes, experts can better determine what techniques Cézanne employed. Multispectral imaging would analyze all of the textures of the paint, revealing what kind of brushwork was used on the portrait. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy would also uncover the elemental makeup of the paint, allowing for experts to narrow down what pigments were used.

These processes would most likely involve taking the 2.5-foot-wide oil painting off display for a while and carefully transporting it to another institution, which is not necessarily an easy feat. “You can't just pop it in your car and drive it to Chicago,” says Urry. So, Still Life with Bread and Eggs was put back on display on December 20, 2022, giving Cincinnati Art Museum visitors a chance to see this two-for-one Cézanne painting for a little while longer. Urry explains, “The portrait has been there since he painted it, and it's been there since [we acquired it in] 1955, so there's no rush.”

Still Life with Bread and Eggs by Paul Cézanne is currently on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum. It is also a part of the museum’s exhibition One Each: Still Lifes by Cézanne, Pissarro and Friends, an audio exhibition. You can learn even more about Still Life with Bread and Eggs on the museum’s website.

During a routine inspection of Cincinnati Art Museum’s coveted Paul Cézanne painting, titled Still Life with Bread and Eggs, chief conservator Serena Urry noticed something “odd.” She investigated further with the help of a local medical company’s portable X-ray machine.

Photo: Cincinnati Art Museum

Lying beneath the surface is a secret that has remained dormant for almost 160 years—a portrait painting, possibly of the artist himself. The museum hopes to further analyze the piece soon to answer all of the questions that remain unanswered.

Photo: Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati Art Museum: Website | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [CNN]

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Photo: revoc9/DepositPhotos

Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Rome to immerse themselves in art and culture. And while there is an abundance of ancient and Renaissance art to see in museums, there are just as many public landmarks spread across the city that take your breath away. One of the most popular destinations for visitors and Romans alike, and one of the most famous fountains in the world, is the Trevi Fountain.

Located just in front of Palazzo Poli, this ornate Baroque-style fountain was designed by architect Nicolo Salvi and completed in the 18th century. It features numerous lifelike sculptures centered around the theme, “Taming of the waters,” including Oceanus and his chariot pulled by hippocamps. In addition to its grand scale, the way in which the art is integrated with the flowing water makes this work an awe-inspiring sight.

Here, we explore the history and iconography behind the Trevi Fountain.

Who designed the Trevi Fountain?

Photo: natursports/DepositPhotos

In the early 18th century, Pop Clement XII held a competition to decide which architect would redesign the fountain in front of the Palazzo Poli. A Florentine mathematician and architect named Alessandro Galilei was initially selected, but after the public threw an uproar over the fact he was not Roman, the project was given to Nicola Salvi instead.

Salvi created a design around the theme “taming of the waters,” and construction began in 1732. Although he died halfway through the fountain's completion, it was eventually finished in 1752 by Giuseppe Pannini.

Exploring the Trevi Fountain

Setting

Photo: pillerss/DepositPhotos

The Trevi Fountain is situated at a place of importance to ancient Rome. Its name Trevi derives from the Latin for “trivium,” meaning ” intersection of three roads.” Today, those streets are called Crocicchi Street, Poli Street, and Delle Muratte Street. The fountain receives water from the Roman aqueduct called Acqua Vergine, located about 14 miles away.

The fountain is located in the Piazza di Trevi, just in front of the Palazzo Poli, a 17th-century building named after the Duke of Poli. A new facade was erected in front of the original after construction on the fountain began.

Iconography

Photo: cigare/DepositPhotos

There are three main figures in the Trevi Fountain: Oceanus, Abundance, and Health. Oceanus is situated in the center of the design, standing underneath the arch created by the facade. He is on a chariot that is being pulled by hippocamps, or Greek mythological sea horses. One of the hippocamps is bucking wildly while the other appears to be at ease, reflecting the changeable moods of the sea.

Photo: DimaKozitsyn/DepositPhotos

Abundance is located to Oceanus's left. She is a lifesize female figure holding a horn with a toppled amphora at her feet. On the other side of the arch is Health, who is depicted wearing a wreath crown on her head, and holding a cup that a snake is drinking from. Above all of the statues is a relief illustrating the history of the Roman aqueducts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Trevi Fountain?

The Trevi Fountain is located in the Piazza di Trevi in Rome, Italy.

When was the Trevi fountain built?

Construction on the Trevi Fountain began in 1732 and was completed in 1762.

Who built the Trevi fountain?

The Trevi Fountain was designed by Baroque architect Nicolo Salvi.

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Paper is a special medium. From sketch artists to book printers, paper goods are the backbone of arts and culture. Some episodes in paper history are legendary—including the Heidelberg letterpress. Between 1923 and 1985, the Original Heidelberg Platen Press was used around the world to churn out newspapers and other printed goods. In homage to this storied machine, Korean paper artist Lee Ji-hee created a full-size replica of the letterpress, crafted from carefully twisted, meshed, and rolled paper.

Ji-hee is no stranger to paper sculpture. She has sculpted an incredible paper train stretching eight meters (26.3 feet) in length; she even crafted a beautiful tablescape of flowers and cakes. To prepare for the challenge of the Heidelberg letterpress, Ji-hee studied the original model, including its trademark windmill paper feed. Through careful cutting and construction, she then recreated almost every detail with paper and corrugated cardboard in varying colors.

The project took Ji-hee three months to complete, and it was created it as a tribute to the long-flourishing printing industry on Chungmuri and Euljiro Streets in Seoul, South Korea. The work was part of the Urban Development project in Seoul, where the artist's office is located in the printing quarter of the city. This is fitting, as Korean printing history is far more ancient than in Europe. Hundreds of years before Gutenberg printed Bibles in Europe, Korean woodblock printers were creating magnificent Buddhist texts.

To see more of Ji-hee's contributions to the long history of paper-based art and culture, check out her Behance and Instagram.

Between 1923 and 1985, the Original Heidelberg Platen Press was used around the world to churn out newspapers and other printed goods.

In homage to this storied machine, Korean paper artist Lee Ji-hee created a full-size replica of the letterpress, crafted from carefully twisted, meshed, and rolled paper.

The project took Ji-hee three months to complete.

Check out more of Ji-hee's paper sculpture.

Lee Ji-hee: Behance | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Lee Ji-hee.

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Using a pen and paper, artist Rob Strati mends broken sentimental plates. The series, titled Fragmented, originated in 2020 when a plate belonging to his late mother-in-law broke. From there, Strati created a way to bring the remaining ceramic pieces to life, continuing the ornate designs into sprawling illustrations that find new life on a blank page.

Each of the works from this series is based around a real broken plate, which Strati places on the paper itself. Then, he uses a pen to fill in what is missing in the design, such as a windmill, a landscape, or animals. However, he does not simply return the plate to the way it looked before. Instead, Strati finds new pathways for the artwork, freeing the numerous elements from the constraints of the circular frame, and sending them spreading across the rest of the sheet of paper.

In some of these cases, this means elaborating on the small section of scenery depicted on the dish, creating a boat-dotted lake that extends into the distance. It also includes untangling the floral pattern which borders the center of the plate, letting the vines and abstract elements float into the sky. These unique additions give a new life to the object, while also celebrating the original meaning itself.

Follow Strati on Instagram to find original drawings available for purchase and to keep up to date with his latest projects.

Artist Rob Strati uses a pen and paper to “fix” broken plates.

He draws whimsical illustrations that seamlessly merge with the broken ceramic pieces.

In this way, the decorations on the plates appear to “escape,” becoming an even larger illustration.

Elements from the ornate designs continue onto the blank paper, freed from the constraints of the ceramic.

Rob Strati: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Rob Strati.

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Artist Steven Castillo puts his own spin on traditional portraiture. His series of acrylic paintings depict enigmatic female figures with cloth covering their faces and bodies, reminiscent of classical sculptures. Instead of a transparent veil, however, this material is filled with mesmerizing marble patterns in an array of psychedelic colors.

To create these unusual fluid patterns, Castillo employs an acrylic pouring technique, which involves adding puddles of colors to the canvas in multiple layers. This abstract aesthetic, coupled with the realistic rendering of human faces, gives these paintings a strikingly unique appearance. As a result, this combination appears to seamlessly merge traditional art with contemporary painting approaches.

All of the figures depicted in Castillo's work have an ethereal quality about them that recalls some Renaissance art. They are portrayed from a variety of angles, but always with their eyes and lips closed. The veil clings to their facial features as though it is wet, resulting in carefully modeled drapery that folds around their noses, cheeks, and jawline.

You can purchase fine art prints via Castillo's online shop, and keep up to date with his latest art by following him on Instagram.

Dallas-based artist Steven Castillo creates colorful paintings of veiled figures.

Each human portrait is covered in a piece of cloth that folds around their face.

Castillo uses an acrylic pouring technique to create mesmerizing marble patterns on the veil.

Steven Castillo: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Steven Castillo.

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