Each year the JordanCon Art Show awards four awards to recognize the most outstanding works by our exhibiting artists, a Judge’s Choice and 3 “People’s Choice” awards selected by you, the JordanCon attendees.
The Judges’ Choice Award is presented for the best work of art in that year’s show, as determined by a panel consisting of our Art Show Director and the Artist Guest of Honor. This award doesn’t necessarily have to go to a single work; it can be (and has been) awarded to a group of works that work together as a thematic whole. The winner of the Judge’s Choice Award is presented with a trophy and a framed certificate. Some past winners of the Judge’s Choice can be seen below.
Our other three awards are determined by a vote in which any JordanCon attendee can participate. These are the aptly named “People’s Choice” awards, and starting in 2022 are awarded for “Best Original,” “Best Print,” and “Best 3D.” Ballots for these awards are available at the Art Show and are counted at the end of the Art Show’s silent auction Saturday.
- Best Original is awarded to one-of-a-kind works of art created with traditional media. Prints and Digital Works are ineligible for this award.
- Best Print is awarded to either digital works or prints of traditional media works, that are recreated using a printing process (inkjet, lithograph, etc.). Any artwork created through a reproduction process are eligible for this award.
- Best 3D is awarded to three-dimensional works of art, in a variety of media.
As with the Judge’s Choice awards, if a group of pieces work as a whole, the entire group can be awarded a People’s Choice Award in a specific category. All People’s Choice award winners are presented with a framed certificate and a medal. Click on the links below to see some of the past award-winning works of art, as selected by the members of JordanCon.
Art Show Award Winners and Artist Guests of Honor
2021
No Artist Guest of Honor
Judges’ Choice: Amy Ashbaugh for “Their Touch, Without Feeling”
Judges’ Choice, Honorable Mention: Kaylani Poluri for “Samsar”
People’s Choice Award, Best WoT Art: Ariel Burgess for “Legendary City”
People’s Choice Award, Best Non-WoT Art: Paul Bielaczyc for “Prophecies of the Dark Dragon”
People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art: Nick Stapleton for “Tempest of Peace”
2020
No Art Show
2019
Artist Guest of Honor: Don dos Santos
Judges’ Choice Award: Amy Ashbaugh for “She Brought the Night to Me”
People’s Choice Award, Best WoT Art: Paul Bielaczyc for “Prophecies of the Dark Dragon”
People’s Choice Award, Best non-WoT Art: Michael Reber for “One Thousand and One”
People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art: Leia Powell for “The Florentine Carousel”
2018
Artist Guest of Honor: Stephanie Law
Judges’ Choice Award
Michael Reber for “Weightless”
2017
Artist Guest of Honor: Stephen Hickman
Judges’ Choice Award
Angela Sasser for “Lady of November”
Creating the “Lady of November”
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Paul Bielaczyc for “May You Always Find Water & Shade”
May You Always Find Water & Shade - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Melissa Gay for “The Strix Nebula”
The Strix Nebula - People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art
Lisa Sell for “Snow Gryphon”
2016
Artist Guest of Honor: John Picacio
Judges’ Choice Award
Sam Flegal for “King’s New Crown”
Creating “King’s New Crown”
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Ariel Burgess for “Saving the Hornsounder”
Saving the Hornsounder - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Paul Bielaczyc for “Just your Imagination”
Just Your Imagination - People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art
Linda Taglieri for “Nynaeve”, a quarter-scale, fully costumed character doll
Nynaeve
2015
Artist Guest of Honor: Todd Lockwood
Judges’ Choice Award
Amanda Makepeace for “Renascentia”
Renascentia
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Ariel Burgess for “Mat Cauthon: Son of Battles” poster
Mat Cauthon: Son of Battles - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Sam Flegal for “Liberty or Death”
Liberty or Death - People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art
Amy Romanczuk for “The White Tower Collection” of psanky eggs
The White Tower Collection
2014
Artist Guest of Honor: Larry Elmore
Judges’ Choice Award
Sam Flegal for “Elf Gate”
“Elf Gate” prints
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Ariel Burgess for “Rand” from The Officially Licensed Wheel of Time Calendar (2014)
Rand al’ Thor, The Dragon Reborn - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Melissa Gay for “Medusa at Home”
Medusa at Home - People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art
Paige Gardner for her “Siri” mask
Siri
2013
Artist Guest of Honor: Michael Whelan
Judges’ Choice Award
Edsel Arnold for “Selene”
“Selene” prints
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Joe O’Hara for “The Last Battle”
The Last Battle - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Paul Bielaczyc for “Counter This”
Counter This - People’s Choice Award, Best 3D Art
Linda Taglieri for “Four Faces of a Volcano”
Four Faces of a Volcano
2012 – Inaugural Year for the JordanCon Art Show
Artist Guest of Honor: Sam Weber
Judges’ Choice Award
Joe O’Hara for “Wheel of Time Characters,” an entire panel of 18 original Wheel of Time character portraits (two of which are shown below).
“Wheel of Time Characters” portrait prints
- People’s Choice Award, Best Wheel of Time Art
Paul Bielaczyc for “Prince of Ravens”
Prince of Ravens - People’s Choice Award, Best Non-Wheel-of-Time Art
Sam Weber for “Mistborn”
Mistborn - People’s Choice Award, Most Unique
Dim Horizon Studio for “Blood River”