Author: Anya Dribas

ÀNI Art Academies Waichulis Apprentice Randy Leoncini has been awarded First Place in the Art Alliance of Monmouth County’s 39th Annual Juried Exhibition for his 2025 charcoal drawing, A Saturday Morning. This highly competitive exhibition brings together a diverse range of artists, with selected works chosen through a rigorous juried process that highlights both technical excellence and compelling visual storytelling. The Art Alliance of Monmouth County, located in Red Bank, New Jersey, has been a cornerstone of the regional arts community since its founding in 1978. Dedicated to fostering the growth and appreciation of visual arts, the organization provides exhibition opportunities,…

ÀNI Art Academies would like to congratulate the winners of our 9th Annual Drawing Competition! A prestigious panel of judges Tim Reynolds, Jeremy Sinsimer, John Manzari, Jordan West, Natalie Featherston, Silvia Belviso, Kara Lysandra Ross, Dru Blair, Scott Jones, Jack Summers, and Brent Dilworth examined each drawing for the qualities that best represent an artist in true command of his or her talent. We are thrilled to announce that the 1st place winner is awarded to Dismal Vidhana Pathiranage for his drawing, Shadows of Longing (ÀNI Sri Lanka). 2nd place is awarded to Kushan Karandeniya for his drawing, Bloom (ÀNI Sri Lanka). 3rd place…

Notes from the 2025 Artist Roundtable Zoom Sessions In 2025, a series of artist roundtable discussions brought together practitioners from diverse backgrounds to reflect on the tools, materials, and methods that shape their daily studio practice. These conversations were not theoretical. They were grounded in experience, in problem-solving, and in the quiet, persistent pursuit of control. What emerged was not a fixed list of preferred brands or prescribed materials, but something far more valuable. It was a shared understanding that tools are extensions of perception. They are not neutral. They influence decisions, guide mark-making, and ultimately shape the image itself.…

From Medal-Winning Masterpieces to Today’s Global Winter Stage In this issue, my section takes a slightly different direction from the usual discussions of artistic innovations, materials, or new creative technologies. With the recent Olympic Games still fresh in many of our minds, it seemed fitting to explore a fascinating piece of Olympic history that many people are unaware of. While the Games are known worldwide as the pinnacle of athletic achievement, there was a time when artists also competed for Olympic medals. For several decades in the early twentieth century, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, and music were official Olympic events.…

Jamie Lindholm’s painting, Namaste, has earned the prestigious distinction of being named a Finalist in the NTD International Figure Painting Competition. This global competition is renowned for its commitment to the “pure beauty, pure goodness, and pure resilience” of traditional oil painting. Namaste captures a moment of profound stillness and reverence, standing out among a field of international talent for its technical precision and the soulful connection it establishes with the viewer. To celebrate this achievement, the work will be showcased at the historic Salmagundi Club in New York City. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity for art enthusiasts to…

Congratulations to Debra Keirce! Her mastery of “micro-realism” has earned her top honors across the national miniature art circuit. Known for her ability to pack monumental detail and narrative wit into small-scale works, Keirce’s recent achievements further establish her as a highly dedicated practitioner of the traditional miniature discipline. First Place – Artwork: Let the Cat Out of the Bag Keirce secured First Place at the Small Works Exhibition hosted by the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center. In a competitive field of intricate works, her oil painting, Let the Cat Out of the Bag, stood out for its technical…

Artist Randy Leoncini has been awarded 3rd Place in the 2025 “Grey” International Art Exhibition for his compelling drawing, A Saturday Morning. Selected from a diverse pool of global entries. As a 3rd Place winner, Leoncini’s artwork is prominently featured in the online exhibition, accompanied by a special artist feature highlighting his creative process and dedication to the craft. The “Grey” Art Competition, hosted by Grey Cube Gallery, is a prestigious juried event that challenges artists to explore the depths of black, white, and every shade in between. By stripping away color, the exhibition emphasizes composition, contrast, and emotional resonance—qualities…

The ÀNI Art Academies is happy to share a landmark collaboration with the John F. Peto Studio Museum for the upcoming exhibition, Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence — From Old Souvenirs to New Voices. This international exhibition brings together works by ÀNI artists from five countries, each a personal reflection on what inspires them to create. At its origin lies a single, deeply personal spark. ÀNI Co-Founder and Curriculum Designer Anthony J. Waichulis first encountered John F. Peto’s Old Souvenirs, a masterfully crafted and meditative still life housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the late 1990s. The quiet poetry and demonstrable…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the creative landscape, sparking both excitement and concern within the fine art world. Within the fine art world, there are many pitfalls to avoid when navigating a technological shift of this magnitude. However, even with hazards on the path, many artists are choosing to use AI to expand the range of tools available to them. Much like the camera, digital software, or new pigments once did, AI offers artists new ways to explore ideas, test possibilities, and deepen their understanding of visual perception. This conversation aligns closely with the ideas presented by Anthony Waichulis in…

45th Annual Western Spirit Juried Show and Sale | Cheyenne, WY Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) International Exhibition | Dunedin, FL WAM (Women Artists Masters) Traveling Museum Show Seaside Art Gallery | Nags Head, NC