A painter in Lee's Summit is preparing to ship one of her portraits to Barcelona, Spain, where it is a finalist in an international figure-painting competition. Tina Garrett is sending off the painting with a viewing party at her home on Saturday evening.
Garrett's painting "String of Pearls" is a finalist in Figuartivas 2015, a competition at the MEAM, the European Museum of Modern Art. Based on information she has received from the competition's organizers, Garrett estimates that "String of Pearls" is one of about 40 finalists out of more than 2,450 entries.
Garrett's painting must arrive in Spain by July 3. A jury panel will consider the entries and announce winners late in late July or early August. It's possible the painting could be sold to a buyer during the exhibition or be acquired by the foundation that sponsors the contest and become a permanent part of the MEAM collection and never return — which is why she decided to give it a going-away party.
“I’ve had so much support from family and friends over the years and this is the best way I know to show them how grateful I am for their encouragement,” Garrett says. “This may be the only opportunity for my well-wishers to see the painting in person.”
Garrett graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver and has been a professional illustrator and graphic designer since 1994. Her interests turned toward oil painting a few years ago and in 2012 she earned scholarships to study at the Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona. She sold her first paintings — and began winning contests — last year.
Her painting “City of Blues” won a purchase prize in a contest sponsored by the Art Renewal Center in New York earlier this year, and is now a permanent part of that organization's collection.
“Everything's just tumbled,” Garrett says, since she began studying and painting in oil. “I've had an incredible show of support from Lee's Summit, the Lee's Summit Arts Council. People stop me at the coffee shop and ask what I'm painting now and where I'm going next. I feel very blessed.”
The open-house at Garrett's home in Lee's Summit is from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday. Those who want to attend should send an RSVP via email for directions.
