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Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show Junior Division winners of Shelby Ledlow, left, Ryley Kleysteuber and Ellie Harrison. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Shelby Ledlow won first place in the Junior Division with a self-portrait sketch. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Ryley Kleysteuber won second place and honorable mention in the Junior Division of the art show creating two landscape paintings. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Ellie Harrison’s painting of a bird won third place in the Junior Division. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The Senior Division winners of the Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show Gloria Ronayne, left, Donny Finlayson and Jeff Daniels. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Gloria Ronayne won first and second place in the Senior Division at the 41st annual Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Donny Finlayson’s big painting of a landscape and building placed third in the Senior Division of the art show. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Jeff Daniels’ mountain landscape painting was named the honorable mention of the Senior Division. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Gloria Ronayne and Shelby Ledlow were named top artists at the 41st annual Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show on June 12. The art show, held annually at River Bank & Trust in Clanton, crowned three top finishers and an honorable mention in junior and senior divisions. Around 30 pieces of artwork were submitted for judging in the art show, and cash prizes were handed out to the top four finishers in each division.

The artwork subject can be of anything the artist wants to create, but their work just be an original creation and not a copy. Artists may enter up to two pieces of their artwork into the show, and the pieces will be displayed in the lobby of River Bank & Trust for the community to view from June 12-20.

One of Chilton County’s most talented artists, Ronayne took first and second place in the Senior Division claiming both the $100 and $75 prizes. This was Ronayne’s eighth year entering the contest, and she has placed in the show each year. This year’s show was the second consecutive year Ronayne took first place in the Senior Division.

“When I won first and second place this year I almost fainted,” Ronayne said. “I usually try to paint things in the community … I just drive around and see, and I like to do buildings, specifically church buildings.”

Ronayne created two watercolor paintings that earned her the top two spots. The first, a painting of a flower she saw out in the Chilton County nature, and the second was a painting of Isabella United Methodist Church.

An independent, anonymous judge oversaw the judging for the art show, and they left comments for each artwork they observed during it.

“I was absolutely drawn straight to this watercolor,” the judge said of Ronayne’s first-place artwork. “The intricate attention to detail, coupled with a delicate color palette, it is just gorgeous.”

Donny Finlayson took home third place and the $50 prize, and Jeff Daniels was named the honorable mention of the Senior Division and won $25.

Ledlow’s self-portrait sketch earned her the top spot in the Junior Division and the $100 prize. She created the drawing by using only a No. 2 pencil, and was encouraged to enter a piece of her artwork by her teachers. In her first art show or contest she has ever entered her artwork into, it paid off.

“I was just told there was an art show, and my teachers (at SPAN of Chilton County) were really pushing me to do it since they have seen all of my work,” Ledlow said. “I did the artwork with a normal pencil that I use in school, and it actually ran out of lead half way through and I had to hold the little piece to finish the shading.  I have taught myself everything I know.”

The attention to detail in the shading of Ledlow’s  piece left an impression on the judge as well.

“I love the composition, and your proportions are on point,” the judge said. “The attention to detail is amazing, your use of light and dark values and shading really bring the portrait to life.”

Ryley Kleysteuber won second place and honorable mention in the Junior Division, winning $100 in prizes. Ellie Harrison placed third and won $50.

All of the artwork entered into the Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show will be on display in the lobby of River Bank & Trust (620 2nd Ave. N, Clanton) until June 20.

2024 Roy Wood Peach Festival Art Show Winners

Senior Division

1st place: Gloria Ronayne

2nd place: Gloria Ronayne

3rd place: Donny Finlayson

Honorable Mention: Jeff Daniels

Junior Division

1st place: Shelby Ledlow

2nd place: Ryley Kleysteuber

3rd place: Ellie Harrison

Honorable Mention: Ryley Kleysteuber

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