A few months ago, I applied to the 2024 (Autumn) Malaysia International Online Juried Art Competition, organized by IFAM Global and advised by master artist Jansen Chow.
This art competition has a worldwide reputation, a well-respected judging panel, and a highly organized approach.
One of the categories is Landscape, which I found especially appealing. I entered with this particular work.
I created this piece from my experiences and references gathered during a plein air trip to the agricultural fields of Kakirawa in Sri Lanka, hosted by my fellow artist and friend, Thilina.
At sunset, the view across the fields was breathtaking. Seeing it for the first time, I felt compelled to capture the moment, especially in an impressionistic style that would convey the flowing qualities of watercolor. The sky, fields, sunset, and small water ponds all merged into a harmonious scene.
After a few weeks, I received an email confirming my selection for the competition. There were 975 submissions in the Landscape category from 55 countries, and only 258 were chosen. From my country, only my name appeared on the list.
Ending 2024 with an achievement like this is inspiring for the year ahead. I look forward to 2025, embracing new challenges and more opportunities to showcase my work to the global watercolor-loving community.
