MOOD. Animals with Attitude, International Juried Art Exhibition 2026
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Congratulations to all the artists of MOOD. Animals with Attitude!
Thank you to every artist artist who submitted. This was one of the most difficult collections of entries for the judges to assess in the history of our exhibitions. Every artist who submitted has our gratitude. The level of dedication to their various art mediums and styles, as well as to the theme of MOOD, is a testament to what it means to be a wildlife/animal artist.
It is the goal of Wild Heart Gallery to support and promote animal and wildlife artwork in a wide range of genres and styles. Artwork for this exhibition was selected by jury based on theme, originality, skill, and quality of work. Jurors were Sarah Soward, and Sharon Eisley.
Awards: Best of Show, Overall Runner Up, Artivism Award, Overall Honorable Mentions, and Finalists. There is also an art section of Selected Works.
Click on an image below to enlarge it.
BEST OF SHOW
Roland, by Michelle Delanty 8 x 8 inches, Watercolor
From the artist, "Roland. Unbothered. Unimpressed. Undeniably handsome."
"Unbothered," as a mood is unexpected. The successfulness of this watercolor painting to communicate that this gorgeous dog feels both unbothered and unimpressed to his core, to the point that he eminates both, is impressive.
The color placement, perceived scale, and use of light work together to set Roland up for maximum mood. The artist's skill in rendering and purposeful use of detail create depth of character and depth spatially.
The white stripe of negative space above the dog's head sets this portrait apart. It's a successful risk that ties together other white/negative space elements in the painting. It adds to the abstract moments throughout.
OVERALL RUNNER UP
Fire and Ice, by Suzanne Nielsen 32 x 28 inches, Oil and copper leaf
From the artist, "Two horses face off in a playful battle, jumping at each other with teeth flashing. Oil on panel with copper leaf details."
The energy of this piece comes through in posture, color use, and brushstrokes. Directionality creates tension throughout the painting. The colliding shifts in direction pump up the intensity.
The title suits the painting and suits each horse. Fire is in more motion and seems to be the agressor. Ice, as the white horse, is less active, defending (or playing) from a braced position, locked in place. The addition of vertical bars of reflecting copper helps cement the white horse in place. It also adds to the feeling of fervor.
ARTIVISM AWARD
Who We Become, by Rachel Atkins-Ellis 12 x 12 inches, Procreate
From the artist, "Dogs enter our lives as companions, but they often leave an imprint far greater than we ever expect. They teach patience, presence, responsibility, and a deeper capacity for love. In caring for them, we are quietly transformed ourselves.
"This piece explores the way dog moms see their role—not as ownership, but as connection. It celebrates the daily acts of devotion that build a life together and the identity that emerges through that relationship. Through bold color and playful imagery, I examine how love reshapes us, revealing that the bond between human and dog is not only about who we care for, but also about who we become in the process."
This is a happy and gentle way to use art for a purpose. Beyond the imagery alone, the colors and composition help communicate the artist's message. The shift from slightly cool background colors to warm and inviting colors on the figures (including the puppies) and foreground objects set up a subconscious understanding that comfort and warmth/love exist there. The composition as a whole is essentially circular and stable, like a happy family.
OVERALL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Congratulations to our Overall Honorable Mention winners, Lucy Chambers, Ele Gybo, Natasha Lazareva, Judy Hussein, Jannicke Mjelde, Debra Scoggin/Myers, Mark Fraley, Sydney Lemmon, Martli Heyns, Judy Sherman, Jane Johansson, and Reagan Lindaman.
FINALISTS
Congratulations to our award Finalists, Helen Turkdogan, Ele Gybo , Lucy Chambers, Patti Fulton, Janice MIllane Wasmer, Rosie Penning, Emma Bowring, Danielle Duquette, Sara Chiaranzelli, Cher Pruys, Nicky Shelton, Barney Levitt, Anne Welch, Rich Brooks, and Dayana Stetco.
SELECTED WORKS
This section is for works that are selected for the virtual exhibition here on wildheartgallery.com but are not awarded.
Congratulations to our Selected Works artists, Gina Tipton, Nadia Setter, Nadia Setter, Anne Marguet, Judy Hussein, Christopher "C.4de" Forde, Sarah McComb-Turbitt, Rosie Penning, Michelle Orkney, Emma Bowring, Nicky Shelton, Jane Johansson, Donna Goeddaeus, Bonnie Ann Glenn, and Alasdair Banks.
SEE MORE ENTRIES
The entries that made it to the final round of judging are also available to view on our art submission partner site: ArtCall.org
These additional images will be available to view through approximately January 2026. After that date, ArtCall automatically archives the pages.
Award Distribution 5th Annual WINGS
Best of Show ($350 cash award)
Overall Runner Up ($150 cash award)
Artivism Award ($50)
Overall Honorable Mentions
Finalists
Best in Show receives $350 cash award and promotion on the following: Art Week, Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media and other online media channels, WHG's eNewsletter, and WHG's home page (for duration of the exhibition).
Overall Runner Up receives $150 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
Artivism Award receives $50 cash award and promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month.
Finalists receive promotion on Wild Heart Gallery’s (WHG's) growing social media/other online media channels and WHG's eNewsletter and inclusion in a virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month. All award recipients also receive an award certificate, emailed as a PDF to the email address used for the submission process.
Selected Works are not awarded entries, but they are included in virtual group exhibition that lasts at least one month. There is no set number of Selected Works.
This art exhibition was juried by Sarah Soward, and Sharon Eisley.
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