Sharon Hernly Best In Show Library Art Show 2026

2026 Library Fine Arts Show
Best of Show Winner

Congratulations to Sharon Hernly on her Best of Show ribbon for “Owl”, a lovely oil painting of a young owl.

The judge was impressed by Sharon’s use of both fine details for the owl’s face and the vibrant, loose brushwork of the background. Add that to the use of sunlight and shadows, and the painting really placed you right in the scene.

To top it off, a visitor bought this painting within 15 minutes of us opening the show!

2026 Library Fine Arts Show
People's Choice Winner

Congratulations to Chickie Harristhal for being awarded the People’s Choice award for her sculpture of an entire gourd family entitled “Eight is Enough.”

The Fine Arts Show received 898 ballots for the People’s Choice award out of over 1400 visitors! We had many strong contenders for this award, but who could resist this whimsical set rendered with such skill and attention to detail?

After several visitors ruminated on purchasing the piece, on Sunday morning someone walked in and immediately said… “Sold!”

Additional 2026 Library Art Show Awards

Category	Ribbon	Artist	Title

Acrylic	1st	Pam Kraft	Focus
	2nd	Mel Brook	Desert Glory
	3rd	Mel Brook	Harmony

Mixed Media	1st	Janet Gaily	Free Flight
(two or more media, such as collage)	2nd	Lloree Ellsworth	Bloomin' Cactus
	3rd	Sonja Alexander	Red Bandana
	Honorable Mention	Emily Gordon	Dusk Bunny

Oil	1st	Sharon Hernly	Owl
	2nd	Jim Tavary	Colors of the West
	3rd	Pam Kraft	Quiet Burning
	Honorable Mention	Jim Tavary	Making Friends

Pastel	1st	Celeste Koper	Desert Beauty
	2nd	Sally Clark	Otter of Color
	3rd	Jeane Fleck	Portrait of a Champion

Category	Ribbon	Artist	Title

Photography	1st	Paul Dolter	Modern Mona Lisa
(includes digital art)	2nd	Pam Plummer	Morning Mist
	3rd	Pam Plummer	Moment of Reflection

Scuplture	1st	Chickie Harristhal	Eight is Enough
(3D such as wood, metal, gourds, etc.)	2nd	Barry Richardson	The Dark Prince
	3rd	Macia Nowak	Looking Up

Watercolor	1st	Angus Ross	Snagging Lunch
	2nd	Angus Ross	Colorado Ghost Town
	3rd	Lauri Harrington	Yellowstone Bison

Uncategorized	1st	Suzanne Cabala	Lucky in the Barn
(otherwise not listed eg. stained glass, textiles, leather, jewelry)	2nd	Carol Brook	Abundance
	3rd	Kathryn Whiting	Jigsaw Pony

Drawing	No Entries
(includes ink, graphite, charcoal, etc.)