July 01, 2010 – (EUREKA SPRINGS, AR) – “Sacred Grove,” a layered acrylic on canvas by D.G. Womack, has been declared the winner of the People’s Choice Award at the 1st Annual Eureka Springs Invitational Art Show, hosted by the Queen Anne Mansion House Museum.
Sacred Grove by DG Womack - Peoples Choice Award
Womack’s winning painting was among over 50 creations by Eureka Springs artists entered in the show. Over 900 visitors attended and had the opportunity to vote for their favorite work of art. The exhibit was produced by the Mayor’s Arts Council and ended May 31.
Mayor Dani Joy presented Womack the $1,000 first prize check at the mansion Wednesday afternoon. “We’re extremely proud of the amazing talent of the artists who live and work here,’ the mayor commented. “Eureka Springs is truly blessed in that regard.”
Rachael Moyer, director of the Queen Anne Mansion House Museum, agreed. “The out-of-towners who came through the exhibit were almost unanimous in their astonishment that all of these incredible pieces were created by Eureka Springs artists.”
At the presentation Womack discussed how she achieved the 3-dimensional effect. “I started working on this last November,” she began. “To get the textured feel I would paint, say, a flower. Then I had to wait until that dried, and then add another layer. If you repeat that process often enough the paint begins to build up, and eventually you get that texturing.”
According to Womack she had a passion for art early on. However, she put off that interest to begin a career as a petroleum geologist, working on oilrigs. “I had to pay the bills,” she remarked. After being laid off in “the recession before this one,” the Oklahoma native resumed painting and has been “pursuing it in earnest for the past ten years.”
Often referred to as “Mid-America’s Art Capital,” Eureka Springs is home to more than 300 working artists. It was chosen again last year as one of America’s top ten small market arts destinations by AmericanStyle magazine.
