Winning artists along with all art displayed at the Circle of Life Community Art Expo in La Jolla. Partnership with Disney's The Lion King and Broadway San Diego.

1. Circle of Life Art Contest and Expo 2022
Winning Entries

2. Audie Caban
“My painting represents African animals, family,
love, friendship, and the circle of life. Simba, Nala,
and their cub represent family and love. Timon and
Pumbaa symbolize friendship. This painting
represents the circle of life because it shows a new
start with Simba and Nala, as they now have a
child that is being introduced to the animal kingdom
by Rafiki as Simba once was.”
Medium: Painting
Teen – 13 - 19
Jury Title: Lions and Friends ADULT/TEEN
FAN FAVORITE
1st Place
Teen

3. “Serengeti Games played while game
animals watch on from the plains.”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Tic Tac Toe
Gloria Chadwick
gloriaachadwick@gmail.com
1st Place
Adult

4. Keigo Yoshinaga
Medium: Painting
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: African Animals
1st Place
Youth

5. “It is a drawing of the Giraffe (from the
African savanna)”
Medium: Mixed Media
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Giraffe
Elizabeth Versky
2nd Place
Youth
YOUTH FAN
FAVORITE

6. “My animals are zebras and their lines
create the camouflage needed for their
survival. My curved lines in the background
show how these animals could confuse the
chasing lions.”
Medium: Digital Art on Canvas
Adult
Jury Title: Three Zebras
Dan Pressman
dan.pressman@yahoo.com
2nd Place
Adult

7. “This is a baby orangutan, could be
baby of Rafiki, the orangutan in
Lion King.”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Baby Orangutan
Bonnie Owen
bonniejowen@gmail.com
3rd Place
Adult

8. Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Simba, Timone, Poomba
Neel Tamirisa
3rd Place
Youth

9. Art Contest ADULT Submissions

10. “African Lion”
Medium: Photography
Adult
Jury Title: Lion Communicating
Margot Carrera
Margot@Carrerafineart.com
www.carrerafineartgallery.com

11. Medium: Photography
“This is a quiet scene of two reptiles
intertwined. They might be brother
and sister, resting in the afternoon
sun. Although crocodiles and
alligators are dangerous predators, in
this photograph they seem quite
content.”
Adult
Jury Title: Crocodiles
Dana Levine
danalevineart@gmail.com

12. Medium: Photography
“I took this photo while on a
self-drive safari in Botswana
in 2018. It captures 2 of most
majestic African native
inhabitants: the giraffe and
the Baobab tree known as the
"Tree of Life".”
Adult
Jury Title: Giraffe and Tree
Barbara Davies
bdavies@autobodynews.com

13. Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Tiger Hiding
Sharon Hoffman
sah_sd@yahoo.com

14. “Safari to Africa has been a life
dream. A photographer friend
took the resource photo for my
resource for this piece - part of my
exhibit Safari by Paintbrush”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Elephant Family
Patricia A. Hunter
oilpainter.pat@gmail.com

15. “This African elephant family is a symbol of
the circle of life; of parents teaching and
protecting their offspring. It illustrates the
importance of family time together.”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Three Elephants
Whitney Moore
wmoore.ca@gmail.com

16. Medium: Drawing
Adult
Submission J
Jury Title: Lion King Sketch
Rosa Agraz

17. Cheryl Ehlers
Cheryl@cherylehlersart.com
Medium: Painting
“Eye on the Target represents an
endangered species”
Adult
Jury Title: Lion Face Painting

18. “This watercolor and drawing art shows the diversity of
animal’s friendship represented by a rainbow of
colors.”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Lion King Friends
Ised Gongora (Adult) &
Eleonor L Nemati (Age 2 ½ )

19. Medium: Painting
“This is a painting in memoriam of my
partner’s Beta Fish, Caspian, who died a
few years ago. For me, this painting will
always serve as a memento mori, and
represent a transcendence between life
and death. Caspian will live on through
this painting. It serves as a reminder
that just because someone dies, does
not mean they are forgotten. Everyone
will die eventually, and that is okay. It’s
the circle of life.”
Adult
Jury Title: Fish
Claire Gadberry
claire.gadberry@yahoo.com

20. Medium: Painting
“Ocean Love” represents
love of nature (and her
love for us), adventure,
and freedom.”
Adult
Submission P
Jury Title: Lion Close Up
Mary A Kumar
mkumar4titude@yahoo.com

21. Medium: Painting
“This woman is bathing in a village pond
in Bengal. You can get a clear idea of
the warm and humid conditions of the
area. Without bathrooms, men and
women have o bathe out in the open.
They keep their clothes on for modesty. “
Adult
Submission Q
Jury Title: Bather
Dipak Gupta
dgupta@sdsu.edu

22. Medium: Painting
“African village people”
Adult
Jury Title: African Adults
Wayne Adachi
adachiwx@gmail.com

23. Medium: Painting
“Children in Africa looking
toward their mothers.”
Adult
Submission S
Jury Title: African Children
Dottie Stanley
dottieaartist@gmail.com

24. Ralph LaZar
ralphlazar@me.com
Medium: Mixed Media
Adult
Jury Title: Two Zebras

25. “The cat in the painting is a feline.
Family with cat”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Submission V
Jury Title: Abstract Couple
Peggy Hinaekian
hinaekian@hotmail.com

26. “REFLECTION: Look inside
yourself you are more than what
you have become and what you
see, although I have painted trees
reflections here and many colors
you see as light reflects in water.”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Jury Title: Trees
Priya Saraf
priyasarafstudio@gmail.com

27. Medium: Painting
“I started painting Monet as a
form of therapy after
experiencing painful personal
losses. I found much needed
healing, relief, and life
transformation in art. Monet
Mikhanh's art is about love, loss,
and overcoming adversity to
reach your destiny, much like the
Lion King's story! Bonus: My dog,
featured in this painting, is also
named Simba :)”
Adult
Jury Title: Dog
Monet Mikhanh
pham.mikhanh@gmail.com
Simba in the Meadow

28. Medium: Painting
“Sunrise over African landscape is
strangely colorful and beautiful”
Adult
Jury Title: Sunset
Martha Pope Gorris
marthwrite@gmail.com

29. “An adobe house fits the story
of Lion King”
Medium: Painting
Adult
Submission BB
Jury Title: Adobe
Shahram Sharafi
cpa@sharafi.com

30. Joshua Levin
jjuwsnyc@gmail.com
Medium: Paper/Fiber collage
“ "Lorenzo" is a splendid bird who
demonstrates the wonder and power of
nature.”
Adult
Jury Title: Bird Collage

31. Medium: Mixed Media
“The beautiful African landscape is full of
rolling hills and beautiful blooming
weeds. My piece reminds me of that
kind of scene.”
Adult
Jury Title: 3D Landscape
Brenda Wright

32. “Circle of Life”
Medium: Mixed Media
Adult
Submission HH
Jury Title: Circle of Life Collage
Julie Schaffran
julieherrmann@gmail.com

33. “Similar to Simba’s coming of age, this
pride art evolved through words my LGBTQ
plus family shared from their own coming
of age stories which inspired them to be
the amazing humans they are today. The
intent of this creation is to reach those
who may be struggling to become their
true selves and give love, community and
encouragement.”
Medium: Mixed Media
Adult
Jury Title: PRIDE
Becca Cullati
beccacullati@icloud.com

34. Patrice Oshrin
patrice.oshrin@gmail.com
“My art is of the beloved turtle. One of earth's
oldest and most recognized animal,
everywhere around the globe.”
Medium: Mixed Media - Mosaics
Adult
Jury Title: Lion Close Up

35. Medium: Sculptural, Ornamental
and Functional ceramic pieces
“My art speaks, among other things, of the cause of animals.
Here with this Elephant Jar I highlight the power of resilience
and healing using the techniques of Raku and kintsugi, meaning
that life is not perfect and without bad surprises, but we can
sometimes rebuild ourselves. Literally picking up the pieces and
stick them back, an approach of optimism and faith in the
future”
Adult Jury Title: Elephant Pottery
Murielle Pottery
m.alavoineborgia@gmail.com

36. Medium: Painting
“These meerkats are watching out for
the safety of their loved ones.”
Adult
Jury Title: Meerkats
Jeff Stephenson
jeff.stephenson.51@gmail.com

37. Art Contest YOUTH Submissions
Under 12 Years

38. Chikako Yoshinaga
Medium: Painting
Youth (12 and Under)
Submission Y-B
Jury Title: Lion on Pride Rock

39. Medium: Painting
“Africa sunset with lion king paw prints”
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Lion King Sunrise
Lucas McManus

40. Medium: Painting
“Hakuna Matata friends lion king friends
footsteps on the grass following each other.”
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Animal Tracks
Vittorio McManus

41. “It is Simba sitting on the grass
just looking all cute. Kion painted
a poster that Kiara is not the
queen and Kiara runs there to
stop Simba from looking at it.
Kian held his hand out and
stopped her.”
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Three Anime Animals
Prem Tamirisa

42. Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Trees and Flower
Ana Solis Agraz

43. Luisa Solis
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Lion and Witch

44. Charlie Graham
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Lion and Tree

45. Adina Halevey
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Circle of Life

46. AnnMarie
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Pridelands View

47. Makena Dayno
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Circle of Life

48. Max Graham
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Circle of Life

49. Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Tiny Lion
Luisa Solis

50. Luisa Solis
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: La Jolla Dots

51. Medium: Drawing
Juan Solis
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Giraffe Watching

52. Rydon Russell
Medium: Drawing
“These two animals are best friends. They
embody the Hakuna Matada spirit
because they are not traditionally friends.
But they found friendship.”
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Cow and Friend

53. Luisa Solis
9
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Submission Y-L
Jury Title: Sunset

54. Shungo Yoshinaga
Medium: Drawing
“It fit how Simba looks over the sunset.”
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Adult Lion on Rock

55. Blake Schaffran
“Hakuna Matata”
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Collage Shaka

56. Cal Schaffran
“Circle of Life”
Medium: Drawing
Youth (12 and Under)
Jury Title: Abstract

57. Art Contest TEEN Submissions

58. Sabrina Peebles
“For this painting I wanted to use a lot of
vibrant colors to demonstrate the beauty
of Mother Nature and the Beauty of
wildlife. I also wanted to incorporate the
face of a lion, Even though the lion is one
of the deadliest animals it’s still Falls
pray to mother nature‘s dark side which
is why the lion shed a tear.”
Medium: Painting
Teen – 13 - 19
Jury Title: Lion Crying
2nd Place
Teen

59. Kit Miller
Medium: Drawing
Teen – 13 - 19
Jury Title: Hiding Girl
3rd Place
Teen
Teen

60. Zoe Levin
“This painting is an idealized
representation of my summer camp
experience. It recalls memories of being
surrounded by jeffrey pines and staring
up at a star dotted sky. Each summer I
spend at camp is spent on adventurous
hikes down to the Santa Ana River,
cackling with my friends over silly
comments and shared struggles. To
me, the circle of life is the circle of the
seasons: waiting for camp, having an
incredible time at camp, being upset
when it ends, and then waiting for it all
over again.”
Medium: Painting
Teen – 13 - 19
Jury Title: Night

61. Community Art Expo will take place at Sotheby’s La Jolla beginning August 5
Here’s how the judging took place.
1. There are THREE Divisions – Adult, Youth and Teen
a. 31 Adult Submissions
b. 21 Youth Submission
c. 4 Teen Submissions
2. Rank Slides in EACH Category 1 - 31; 1 - 20, 1 - 4 using the following criteria
a. 50% Interpretation of Theme: Lion King, Hakuna Matata (no worries), Circle of Life, Family, Friendship, Wildlife, Nature, etc.
b. 50% Artistry including creativity and originality, and the quality of the artwork and artistic skill demonstrated.
3. To rank, you have several options:
a. You can reorder slides to represent your preferred rankings using the Slide Sorter option in Power Point.
b. You can type the number 1 directly on your top choice, number 2 on your second choice, etc. in Google Sheets
c. You can print out the slides after you have viewed and write your choices on the print copy; scan and send to us (or we’ll come
by and pick it up.
d. You can send us an email with your rankings.
e. Feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.
4. All art media was accepted. Submissions include drawings, paintings, sculpture, collage, mixed media. For ease of viewing, we’ve order
submissions based on both medium and subject matter.
5. Up to five photos were allowed to represent for 3-D Art; one photo for 2D Art. The Expo will include actual pieces.
6. Artist names have been removed to insure objectivity.
7. Artists were given the option (not required) to share an “artist statement” specific to how their piece fit into the theme.
8. The Jury Titles were NOT submitted by the artist but are assigned to assist with your process.
9. Once you have reorded/ranked the artwork, please send back to us at jodi@lajollabythesea.com.
10. Deadline to return your selections is Tuesday, JULY 26.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING PART OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY EVENT!