Author: Anya Dribas

Artist Dona Alexis recently achieved success at the Boulder County Fair & Livestock Show in Colorado, where two of her paintings received awards. Her still life Lemons earned Second Place, while The Storm Is Coming, a striking equine portrait, received an impressive series of honors: First Place, Champion, and Grand Champion, the highest award presented in the competition. Every exhibition and competition offers artists a chance to share their work, connect with new audiences, and take another step forward in their artistic journey. Dona’s Grand Champion recognition is an especially exciting achievement and a wonderful acknowledgment of her dedication to…

ÀNI Art Academies is proud to announce the return of Capturing Realism Asia, taking place from October 3 through October 18, 2026, at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This will be the second Capturing Realism Asia exhibition presented in Colombo, continuing a growing tradition that celebrates the remarkable artistic achievements emerging from ÀNI Art Academies Sri Lanka and Thailand. Hosted by ÀNI Art Academies Sri Lanka, the exhibition will bring together compelling contemporary works by more than 20 artists, including current apprentices, alumni, Deans, and instructors from both academies. The collection will highlight a wide range…

We are delighted to celebrate the many ÀNI Art Academy artists whose work appears in the 17th & 18th International Book of Realism, featuring works recognized through the Art Renewal Center’s 17th and 18th International Salons. The publication brings together an extraordinary collection of contemporary representational artwork, and we are incredibly proud to see so many artists connected with ÀNI Art Academies represented within its pages. Across Still Life, Imaginative Realism, Drawing, and Portraiture, ÀNI artists earned finalist placements, honorable mentions, purchase and publishing awards, and other distinctions. In Still Life, Maxwell Miller was recognized for Tale of the Curious…

Congratulations to Randy Leoncini on being featured as one of the Salon Art Prize April winners and for having his work showcased in the latest issue of PleinAir Magazine. Randy’s award-winning drawing (A Saturday Morning) was selected among the month’s standout entries, earning recognition for its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic vision. The feature in PleinAir Magazine further highlights the growing appreciation for his work, placing it before an international audience of artists, collectors, and enthusiasts. At ÀNI Art Academies, we are always excited to celebrate the accomplishments of artists who continue to raise the standard for representational art. Randy’s recognition…

Artist Debra Keirce continues to earn recognition for her remarkable work, with four recent paintings receiving honors in juried exhibitions and competitions. Prairie Schooner (8×6″, Oil) was selected as a finalist in the Salon Art Prize. The work appears in the June 2026 Salon Art Prize gallery. Carefree Days (17×11″, Oil) was named a FASO Favorite 15% winner, while A Moment (3×3″, Oil) received an Honorable Mention in the Parklane Miniature Show. Rounding out this impressive group of achievements, Flush (18×19″, Oil) was selected as a finalist in the 1st AAPL Online Juried Exhibition as well as the WAOW Late…

Creating strong artwork is at the heart of an artist’s practice, but it’s only part of building a sustainable artistic career. Artists also need opportunities to have their work seen, remembered, discussed, and discovered. Today, social media, particularly Instagram, has become one of the most accessible tools for making that happen. Your Digital Portfolio For many people, Instagram is one of the first places they encounter an artist’s work. Collectors, galleries, arts organizations, fellow artists, and potential clients may visit an artist’s profile before ever visiting a personal website. This makes Instagram more than a collection of posts. It becomes…

We are excited to share more exciting achievements for Deborah Schlossman! Her painting, Just Another Day in the Studio (14×18″, Oil), has received a Merit Award in the NOAPS Associate Members Exhibition. And if that is not enough, we’re excited to share that she is featured in the August/September 2026 issue of International Artist Magazine! Her painting Just Another Day in the Studio brings together an eclectic collection of studio objects, from colorful spools of thread and wrapped candies to reflective surfaces that offer a glimpse into the artist’s own studio environment. Congratulations, Deborah, on another well-deserved recognition! In her…

Congratulations to Deborah Kommalan on her inclusion in the Summer Dreams exhibition at McBride Gallery in Annapolis, Maryland. Her painting, Olio e Limoni, showcases the notable still life “style” that Deborah is well known for! Founded by Cynthia McBride in 1980, McBride Gallery has grown from a small Main Street exhibition space into one of Annapolis’s longest-running commercial art galleries. After moving to its present location at 215 Main Street in 1990, the gallery expanded its roster and exhibition program while maintaining a strong focus on representational painting and sculpture, including landscape, marine, still life, wildlife, and regional subjects. Over…

ÀNI Art Academies is proud to celebrate apprentice Patricia Alonzo Diaz, who recently participated in a special art exhibition as part of the Río Elements Arts & Music Festival in the Dominican Republic.Patricia’s exhibition featured a vibrant collection of works inspired by the beauty of the natural world. Particularly the sea, marine life, and the rich colors of the Caribbean. Visitors experienced an engaging display that combined paintings with hand-crafted sculptural pieces and painted objects, transforming the exhibition into an immersive celebration of ocean life. The exhibition also introduced Patricia’s artwork to a new audience during one of the region’s…

ÀNI Art Academies Dominicana recently met with the Directorate General of Fine Arts (Dirección General de Bellas Artes) to explore opportunities for collaboration and strengthen support for arts education in the Dominican Republic. Established in 1940, the Dirección General de Bellas Artes is the Dominican government institution responsible for promoting artistic creation, specialized arts education, and public access to the arts. Operating under the Ministry of Culture, it also supports the development of arts institutions and encourages cultural exchange with national and international partners. ÀNI Art Academies Dominicana Dean Juanairis Collado and instructor Francisco Collado represented the academy during the…