Oh, this annual competition is such a fantastic supporter of Canadian artists! Here’s the deal:

Since 1999, the RBC Canadian Painting Competition, with the support of the Canadian Art Foundation, has been a unique initiative, which helps bridge the gap from emerging to established artists. The RBC Canadian Painting Competition is RBC’s cornerstone RBC Emerging Artists Project property which focuses on supporting artists at the early stage of their careers. More than just financial support, this program offers mentorship, exposure to audiences and more.

So, so great … and $25,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the next two finalists, and $2,500 to the other 12 isn’t bad either! There are 15 finalists: 5 from Eastern Canada, 5 from Central Canada, and 5 from Western Canada. The winner will be announced on November 18th at the Vancouver Art Gallery… but until then, here are just a few of my personal favorites, although it was really hard to pick:

west: robert taite, mixed media

……….

central: caroline larsen, oil painting

……….

east: hangama amiri, mixed media

Ah, makes me proud to be Canadian… but I’m really glad that I’m not a judge {how could you decide!?} Good luck to them, and good luck to all of the finalists!