Second runner-up , Julie Franco , a professional artist , is from Gilroy . She is a Garlic Festival Poster Contest veteran having entered and placed many times in the past . Her art background is decorative illustration . She received a BFA from the San Francisco Academy of Arts College . Her inspiration for this year ’ s entry sprung from another work she recently completed for Gilroy that she painted as a gift for the twenty-fifth anniversary for Takko Machi , Gilroy ’ s Sister City .
Her admiration for the complexity of Japanese art coupled with a piece of kimono fabric inspired her to paint her poster entry . She chose to work in gouache ( pronounced gwash ). The medium is similar to watercolor , but much more opaque . The resulting colors are much richer and are perfect for posters . The look she was going for was something different and elegant , “ something you would want hanging in your kitchen ,” said Julie .
Gilroy resident Cory Still was the third place runner-up and is new to the contest this year . He studied art at Long Beach State University . Not long before graduation , however , his entire portfolio was stolen - five years of work gone in an instant . This incident took place when there was no such thing as backup data storage . With all of his work gone he became discouraged and dropped out of art school , never to return .
Now after a long hiatus he decided it was time to reenter the art world . The Garlic Festival Contest has been part of his art career revival . His friends also encouraged him . He has recently worked on commission pieces and is selling prints on Fine Art America . He said that he had recently finished a garlicthemed print a client bought who was so impressed with the work that she told him he should consider entering the Garlic Festival Poster Contest . That was his inspiration for his entry . The title was , “ Just Garlic .” Cory ’ s style leans toward photorealism using pens as his medium . His work is crisp and detailed . It has been mistaken for photographs in the past .
The Gilroy Garlic Festival Poster Contest began in 1986 , according to Joann
Kessler , Assistant Executive Director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association , and is open to anyone except those with ties to the Association . Each year the call goes out to artists everywhere and the deadline is typically mid March .
The first place winner receives $ 750 , second $ 400 , third $ 200 , and “ up to ten non-winning entries , excluding the first place winner , will be entered into the People ’ s Choice Contest . The entry with the most votes in this contest will win $ 200 ,” according to the contest rules . The People ’ s Choice is held at the Garlic Festival where the crowd can vote on their favorite poster entry .
According to the contest rules to win first place an entry must be “ one that is judged to best capture the spirit and essence of this premier food festival .” It ’ s hard choosing a winning entry as each year many wonderful artistic creations are received . It ’ s then the responsibility of the Gilroy Garlic Festival staff , the Retail Committee , and the Board , to select the winners .
There ’ s a lot to consider when deciding which one to pick . However , Joann said , “ we can always get consensus on which one we like – at least which one we like in the top three .” The judges aren ’ t the only ones with a challenge , however . Artists also have a difficult job .
The posters will be printed and sold to festival attendees and are designed to hang in kitchens and dining rooms . This is the challenge for the artists as they sit down to mull over the blank canvas staring at them as they try to create a winner . What qualifications do these artists have and what inspires them ?
Each year the Gilroy Garlic Festival Poster Contest brings in exciting entries as new artists and returning veterans , both hobbyists and professionals , locals and visitors , all come together to present their best creations . If you would like to get more information on the Gilroy Garlic Festival Poster Contest please visit their website at www . gilroygarlicfestival . com / festival / poster-contest
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