I am a multidisciplinary artist whose work is rooted in self expression, healing, and nostalgia. I’ve been creative since childhood, starting with bubble lettering and cartoon drawings, and eventually finding my primary medium in painting during the COVID pandemic. My style is bold and emotionally driven, often exploring themes of mental health, inner dialogue, and the human experience. I participate in art shows and host painting events that bring creativity and community together. As a psychology student pursuing a future in social work and art therapy, my art is deeply connected to my passion for healing through creativity.

I paint whatever god wants of me. Expressionism.

Courtney has been creating her whole life, focusing on sewing, sculpting, and painting. She’s worked in TV and film and created an award‑winning sculpture for Redbull. In 2022 she became a firefighter, and art has recently become her way to find peace and process the realities of the job. Her work is abstract, textured, whimsical, and organic, usually made without a plan—just going with the flow.

I'm a Chicago artist embracing the weird and grotesque, while combining and displaying it in a jovial light. My art has always been inspired by the weird colors used in cartoons during the 90s and early 2000s, as well as the intrest in the gross and grunge.

Josiane discovered her artistic talent a few years ago and has loved creating ever since. She’s excited to share her work and participate in the contest, looking forward to the experience and connecting with fellow artists.

Chicago-based visual artist whose work transforms lived experience, faith, and vision loss into bold, emotionally charged paintings. Diagnosed with keratoconus at a young age, Justin is legally blind, a reality that deeply informs his artistic process. Rather than relying on perfect sight, he paints through memory, touch, intuition, and emotional perception, turning limitation into a powerful creative advantage.

Working across live painting, figurative work, and expressive portraiture, Justin’s art explores themes of resilience, identity, sensuality, and spiritual awareness. His practice is rooted in vulnerability and presence, often created in front of live audiences, where the act of making becomes as meaningful as the final piece.

Justin has participated in over 60 exhibitions and live art events across Chicago and beyond, building a reputation for fearless expression, technical confidence, and magnetic energy. Through his work, he aims to challenge how people define “vision,” showing that true sight comes from feeling, intention, and belief.

Local painter based out of Wicker Park, Chicago. I’m self trained and I love to explore a wide range of themes and studies like politics, architecture and plein air.

I have been a for-hire live event painter for ten years. I started out painting live bands in dark night clubs, but eventually made my way to working in other venues across the country. I have experience painting at Ironman triathlons, weddings, music festivals, corporate events, college sports stadiums, and more.

Fartingsky/Metzli is an artist from Chicago who mainly works with acrylic and oil paint. She tends to lean towards realistic features in her paintings while also creating pieces that are a pleasure to look at. She works with not only still life, but also portraits and other mediums of art./sf

multimedia artist with no plan B.

I am a multidisciplinary artist and live event/wedding painter! My work is inspired by the encapsulating whimsical beauty of nature, the human spirit and capturing the energy of love stories. My style is expressive, utilizing vibrant colors and realism with a blend of impressionistic brushwork. Some of my earliest memories are teaching painting classes at paint and sip venues since I was 14. I picked up the brush again instructing at Painting With a Twist during college. This is where I discovered how much joy comes from creating in the presence of others. I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a degree in fibers’ and I enjoy knitting in my free time. I currently am a full time live event/wedding painter where I freeze fleeting moments into a timeless piece people will cherish forever.