Rockwall Art League’s 2026 Fine Art Show Is Full of Surprises

It is difficult to walk into a room filled with nearly 200 works of art and know where to look first.

In my case, the first distraction wasn’t even hanging on a wall.

It was the balloons.

My friend Julie Spokes Owen had created these fantastic, colorful balloon arrangements throughout The Center at Rockwall City Place. Metallic stars, vibrant colors and oversized clusters gave the evening a playful welcome before visitors even began exploring the artwork.

The occasion was the Rockwall Art League’s 26th Annual Juried Fine Art Show & Sale, which opened Friday, October 16, in downtown Rockwall.

The exhibition continues through Sunday, October 18, with free admission and original artwork available for purchase.

I spent the opening reception wandering through the exhibition, visiting with familiar faces and asking a few artists about the stories behind their work.

As it turns out, some of those conversations were just as interesting as the artwork itself.

An Evening of Art, Conversation and a Little Eye Spy

With artwork arranged across eight categories, including oil, watercolor, acrylic, drawing, photography, sculpture, mixed media and mosaic, there was no shortage of things to look at.

Visitors moved between the displays while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and Prosecco. I spotted Lee Wickland serving, bringing her usual bubbly personality to the occasion.

The League also had a clever activity for reception guests called Eye Spy. Participants received cards featuring close-up images of details hidden within the exhibited artwork. After finding the matching pieces, guests could enter their completed cards into a prize drawing.

It was a fun way to encourage people to study the artwork rather than simply walk past it.

The evening also reflected the support of local businesses, organizations and individuals who helped make the exhibition possible. Gold sponsors included Divine Peace Church, Burns Surveying and American Homes; silver sponsors Brittez Bubbles and Celebrate Media Group; and bronze sponsors David Billings and Zanata.

The League also recognized supporters Bagel Lady, Beer Me Fate, City of Fate, Covebourne, Downing Bottles & Bites, Freshly Clean, Graves Roofing & Restoration, Hill’s Counseling, Milano’s Pizza of Heath, New View Windows, Rockwall EDC, Sarah Wandrey, Shenanigans and Stephan Stanford CPA.

It’s wonderful to see that kind of community support behind an event that celebrates local and regional artists.

One of the side rooms featured Images of Rockwall, an exhibition celebrating familiar places through an artist’s eyes.

There were paintings and photographs of locations many of us recognize from the courthouse to the downtown farmers market.

I especially liked the idea of visitors trying to identify the places depicted. We pass these buildings, streets and gathering places all the time, but seeing them interpreted by an artist gives us a different reason to pay attention.

When the Artwork Has Something to Say

One of my more entertaining conversations was with oil painter Robert Hendrickson, whose piece Fowl Sins: Lust — “Ducking the Consequences” received an Honorable Mention.

At first glance, it’s an unusual gathering of birds surrounded by strands of pearls against a dark background. There’s something almost theatrical about the arrangement, and the longer you look, the more curious it becomes.

Hendrickson told me the idea began while he was out thrifting and came across some ducks. But the story he eventually developed was about something entirely different.

Lust, objectification, wealth and the way people behave when confronted with their actions.

He explained how the pigeons represented lust, particularly the tendency to objectify others. The pearl necklaces introduced another layer of symbolism involving wealth, social standing and the idea of clutching one’s pearls when faced with uncomfortable truths.

And then there’s the title itself.

Ducking the consequences.

Clever, isn’t it?

I enjoyed listening to Hendrickson explain how he connected these ideas. What initially appeared to be a quirky painting of birds turned into a commentary on human behavior.

It’s a good reminder that sometimes the story behind a painting is just as interesting as what’s happening on the canvas.

Another artist I enjoyed visiting with was David Miner, who produced an acrylic painting Let the Trumpet Sound.

The composition features a tightly cropped, angled view of a 1980 Los Angeles Benge 3X B-flat trumpet.

What impressed me was his technique.

Miner used dry brushing to develop the highlights and reflections across the instrument’s valves, finger buttons and metallic tubing. The way the light travels across the trumpet gives the painting a striking dimensional quality.

He told me he had originally been looking for a saxophone to paint but ultimately chose the trumpet. Capturing those details proved challenging and he was pleased to have completed it.

While this particular painting did not receive an award, Miner earned Second Place in the Acrylic category for another work, Eleven Keys.

A Whimsical Mosaic Made for Someone Special

Mosaic was a new juried category at this year’s show and I was particularly interested in seeing what the participating artists had created.

One piece that drew me in was The Enchanted Den by Michelle Swanson.

And wouldn’t you know it, Michelle was standing right there beside her work.

Naturally, I wanted to know how she got started.

She explained that after retiring, she began exploring mosaic art through classes with Barbara Dybala, one of my favorite local artists.

Her entry was inspired by a special project for her grandchild, whose whimsical woodland-creature theme sparked the idea for this enchanting scene.

A winding stone pathway leads to a cozy den nestled beneath a magnificent tree. Butterflies flutter above, while colorful flowers and pink mushrooms surround the little foxes resting inside.

There’s so much to discover in the details.

Michelle pointed out the decorative gems, mushrooms and butterflies she incorporated into the design. She also described using epoxy to create additional depth and dimension.

What I especially enjoyed was the softness she managed to create in the foxes. They look so cozy tucked together inside their little woodland home.

And perhaps the sweetest part is knowing where this artwork is going.

It’s destined for her grandchild’s room.

I can imagine it becoming one of those treasured pieces that stays in the family long after childhood.

The Enchanted Den received an Honorable Mention in the Mosaic category.

The Otter I Couldn’t Stop Looking At

There was one piece I kept coming back to.

Zen Float by Sharon Goldammer.

At first glance, I thought I was looking at a painting of an otter floating peacefully in the water.

Then I discovered it was a drawing.

A drawing!

I found myself studying the incredible detail in the wet fur, the soft lighting around the otter’s face and the reflections rippling across the water. Even the tiny whiskers were beautifully rendered.

It immediately reminded me of that hilarious scene in Finding Dory when the otters help stop traffic.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one charmed by this little creature.

Throughout the evening, I noticed visitors stopping in front of the artwork, and I heard more than one person say some version of, “I just want to hug him!”

I completely understood.

What impressed me was not only Goldammer’s technique but how much personality she managed to capture in such a quiet moment.

And clearly, the judges appreciated her work too.

Zen Float was named Best in Show, earning Goldammer the exhibition’s $1,000 top prize.

After spending so much time admiring the detail I was really happy to hear the announcement.

A Peacock Painting With Plenty of Personality

I also spotted a familiar local face, Kindsay Carter, who entered a 36-by-36-inch mixed-media acrylic painting with gold leaf titled It Takes Two to Tango.

And goodness, this painting has personality!

Two elaborately feathered peacocks face one another against a brilliant pink background, surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery. Gold leaf throughout the feathers adds another layer of drama.

Kindsay shared that the inspiration actually came from her grandmother, who wanted a little Parisian and European flair in her home. Her grandmother had fallen in love with the idea of peacocks after seeing another painting Kindsay had commissioned for a dear friend.

What I love about this painting is that it makes absolutely no attempt to blend into the background.

It’s bright, funky and full of energy.

I can picture it hanging in a fabulous entertaining space, the kind of room where guests stop in the middle of a party and ask, “Who painted that?”

It’s the sort of statement piece that deserves its own moment in the society pages.

Celebrating the Artists Behind the Work

Friday evening also included the announcement of the juried awards, recognizing artists across the exhibition’s eight categories.

This year’s judges, Dana Brock and Rachel Townsend Cerny, brought considerable artistic experience to the selection process.

Brock is an abstract and mixed-media painter whose work incorporates acrylic, ink, charcoal and watercolor. A Signature Member of the Southwestern Watercolor Society, she has received several artistic honors and serves as Art Curator-Director for MillHouse McKinney.

Cerny, also known as RTown, is a multidisciplinary artist, curator and founder of RTown Gallery in historic downtown Grapevine. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from the University of North Texas, she brings experience from both sides of the gallery wall, creating her own work and evaluating the work of other artists.

Together, the judges evaluated the entries based on mastery of design, technique, conceptual quality and creativity.

Of course, every visitor will have a personal favorite. That’s part of the enjoyment of walking through an exhibition like this. But the juried awards recognize the skill, originality and artistic decisions behind the work.

And for the artists who spent countless hours creating these pieces, Friday evening offered a well-deserved moment of recognition.

2026 Rockwall Art League Juried Fine Art Show Award Winners

Congratulations to these artists and the many others whose work was recognized.

Best in Show

• Sharon Goldammer — Zen Float (Drawing), $1,000 prize

Oil

• First Place: Julius Perez — A Summer’s Dusk in El Paso
• Second Place: Mark Gates — Tenant Cabin Sunrise
• Third Place: Donna Lee Nyzio — Texas Rose
• Honorable Mention: Loki Vanguard — Mother Earth
• Honorable Mention: Joseph LaBarre — Always Watching
• Honorable Mention: Robert Hendrickson — Fowl Sins: Lust “Ducking the Consequences”
• Honorable Mention: Carol Ross — SHE KNOWS

Watercolor

• First Place: Julie Edwards — The Simple Things
• Second Place: Sudeep Kumar — Backdoor X
• Third Place: Mark Gates — Better Days
• Honorable Mention: Shantel Rich — Willa’s Prince
• Honorable Mention: Emerson Hovey — Adrift

Acrylic

• First Place: Donna Wolfe — Fight Night
• Second Place: David Miner — Eleven Keys
• Third Place: Helen Comeau — Spring in Giverny
• Honorable Mention: Tammy Pennington — Midriver Drink
• Honorable Mention: Keith Lungwitz — Fallow
• Honorable Mention: Kimberly Wenger — Where To?

Mixed Media/Digital

• First Place: Anusha Mavuram — Eternal Bloom: From Roots to Cosmos
• Second Place: David Blow — Downy
• Third Place: Betty Hoaglund — The Juggler
• Honorable Mention: Nick Glenn — Strife and the Valiant

Mosaic

• First Place: Kathy Gutierrez — The Professor
• Second Place: Mary Jo Marvin — Bird of Paradise Bouquet
• Third Place: Jan Thomas — Preening Pelican
• Honorable Mention: Michelle Swanson — The Enchanted Den
• Honorable Mention: Brittany Cooper — The 98′

Drawing

• First Place: Patrick Ollila — Hide n’ Seek
• Second Place: Joanna Burch — Go on Ahead, I Am Too Tired
• Third Place: Mylinda Farr — Green Milkweed Reunion
• Honorable Mention: Sharon Goldammer — Blue Heron

Photography

• First Place: Rick Mase — A Gathering of Snails
• Second Place: Emily Monroe — The Kayaker at Lake Hamilton
• Third Place: Hayden Foltz — picnic
• Honorable Mention: Greg Wilkins — Tomato and Forks
• Honorable Mention: Blair Hillis — The Local

Sculpture

• First Place: Stephen Hawkins — Gilded Flight
• Second Place: Bob Minbiole — Woodcock in Fall
• Third Place: Cristi Frye — Delightful
• Honorable Mention: Steven Goss — Vera, Chuck & Dave
• Honorable Mention: Curtis Frederick — Anticipation – 2nd View

One More Reason to Visit Before Sunday

One of the things I enjoyed most about this exhibition was hearing the stories behind the artwork. You don’t have to understand every technique or agree with the judges to find something that speaks to you.

And there’s still a chance to be part of the fun.

This year, the Rockwall Art League is inviting the public to help choose its Showstopper Award. Visit the League’s Facebook page, find the exhibition artwork album and share your favorite piece, making sure to tag Rockwall Art League.

The artwork with the most qualifying shares will win. The League will begin tallying shares at noon Sunday, October 18, with the winner announced at 3 p.m.

Visitors attending in person can also vote for the separate People’s Choice Award.

And while you’re there, consider whether one of those pieces deserves a place in your home.

Most of the artwork is available for purchase, with prices starting at $50. The League is also offering select miniature works for $25 each, with proceeds supporting scholarships for Rockwall area high school students.

You don’t have to be an experienced art collector to appreciate owning something original. Sometimes it’s a painting that reminds you of a favorite place, a photograph you can’t stop looking at or a colorful piece that makes you smile.

If something catches your attention, ask about purchasing it. Artwork sales and pickup are scheduled to begin following Sunday’s final awards.

I hope you’ll make time to walk through the exhibition, enjoy the work and perhaps strike up a conversation with an artist.

You never know. You might find something you love enough to take home.

Plan Your Visit

• Event: Rockwall Art League’s 26th Annual Juried Fine Art Show & Sale
• Location: The Center at Rockwall City Place, 108 E. Washington St., Rockwall, TX 75087
• Saturday, October 17: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18: Noon – 4 p.m.
• Final awards: Sunday at 3 p.m.
• Admission: Free
• Show details: Rockwall Art League’s official exhibition page
• Showstopper voting: Rockwall Art League on Facebook