Ann and John McDonald of Niagara Falls are a husband and wife team of filmmakers and artists. You can see more of their work on their website, Accidental Art!
Filmmaker and guest judge, Nick Mirka, had this to say about the winning film:
“I love this film. It was clever, it was quirky. From the first 10 seconds I was hooked just based on the character alone.”
Click here to see our official Winner Announcement video and learn more about the Competition!
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]]>Filmmakers took up the challenge to write, film, and edit a short film only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given three prompts that they had to be featured in their film. These included the theme – a defining moment; an action – unlocking something; a prop – a handwritten note.
This was a daunting task, as the filmmakers had to write their scripts, memorize lines, scout locations, shoot and edit their film before the deadline. But they were more than up to it! As the submissions came in, we were truly impressed away by all the outstanding films across genres, from haunted horrors to off-beat comedies.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Short Film Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s guest judge Nick Mirka to reveal our winner!
Congratulations, Ann and John McDonald on their winning short film “Handyman Killer”!
Ann and John McDonald, are a husband and wife team of filmmakers and artists based in Niagara Falls. They describe “Handyman Killer” as “a documentary style narrative about an aging actor whose dreams of starring in a horror film may have passed him by”.
Click here to watch to “Handyman Killer” now!
To learn see more of their work, check out their website Accidental Art.
As the winner of the Short Film Competition, Ann and John will receive:
- $150 Henry’s gift card
- 1-on-1 feedback session with filmmaker and guest judge, Nick Mirka
- Film featured on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
Thank you to our partners Vaylin Entertainment, the City of Niagara Falls, and the 2022 Canada Games.
Thank you to all the filmmakers who took part and made the FINAL 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun making their short films as we had watching them!
Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep filming!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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“COVID Time”, acrylic paint on canvas, 11 x 14 in (click to enlarge)
As part of the Visual Art competition, participating artists were given the prompt “TIME”. While Sherry Lynn’s work is stunning and evocative on its own, her description of the painting provides a greater insight into how she interpreted the prompt:
“For some, the concept of time has been dramatically altered by the COVID crisis. Before, many of us were on a fast track to nowhere – running from morning to night and a to-do list that was never done. Then everything slowed down as restrictions were put into place. We weren’t accustomed to this time for stillness – and anxiety and depression overwhelmed. There is so much happening in the world today, indeed the very survival of humanity and earth is threatened. Perhaps, with luck and grace, this has been enough time for greater wisdom and a gentler humanity.”
Our guest judges, Steve Wilson, artist and owner of the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, and Debra Attenborough, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, had this to say about “COVID Time”:
“I get the feeling of isolation, we have all felt that. It’s well done. The absence of anything else in the room and her looking through the curtains reiterates the feeling and isolation and emotion.” – Steve Wilson
“I enjoy the evocative feelings of isolation and loneliness in this work. In addition the technical qualities are evident, and the composition – focussing on the figure and the window emphasize the theme without being overly literal about the prompt. To be able to convey the thought without a timepiece really elevates it beyond the others.” – Debra Attenborough
Sherry Lynn is a resident of Grimsby. She has always been creative and making art in different forms. With no formal art training she allows inspiration to guide her practice. In her Artist Bio, Sherry Lynn had this to say about her journey as an artist:
“I had to choose between a nursing or an art education when I was young and chose the first. Now I have the great privilege to be able to do my art any time I like – with my own studio space and all the supplies I want. This feels like a dream! I am taking classes, reading, connecting with other artists, anything I can, now that I finally have the resources.”
What a dream indeed!
“COVID Time” will be on display at the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, at 4425 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, from mid-August to September 4th.
To see our official Winner Announcement video, click here.
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]]>They put their creativity and skills to the test to create an artwork on paper or canvas in only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given the prompt: TIME. How they interpreted and represented the prompt was entirely up to them.
It was no easy feat, but these artists were more than up to the challenge. We received so many truly stunning works of art – from abstract oil paintings, to watercolour portraits, and even elaborate collage.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Visual Art Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s Kateri Foreman to reveal our winner!
https://youtu.be/AVe2CzrL12I
Congratulations, Sherry Lynn on your winning artwork “COVID Time”!
Sherry Lynn resides in Grimsby and has always had a love for being creative and making art. In her Artist Bio, Sherry Lynn had this to say about her journey as an artist:
“I had to choose between a nursing or an art education when I was young and chose the first. Now I have the great privilege to be able to do my art any time I like – with my own studio space and all the supplies I want. This feels like a dream!”
To view “COVID Time” and to learn more about Sherry Lynn and the inspiration behind her work, click here.
As the winner of the Visual Art Competition, Sherry Lynn will receive:
- “COVID Time” displayed at Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery
- 1-on-1 feedback session with Debra Attenborough, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery
- Art supplies pack courtesy of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery
- Artwork published on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
But that’s not all! Our judges were so impressed with the artworks we received that they selected two runners-up, whose work will also be displayed at Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery!
2nd Place – “The Illusion of Time” by Astrid Akkerman of St. Catharines
3rd Place – “Time Waits for No Man!” by Christina Drummond of Fonthill.
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors – Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery and the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, and our Partners – the City of Niagara Falls, the 2022 Canada Games, and everyone at Vaylin Entertainment.
The winning artworks will be on display at the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, at 4425 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, from mid-August to September 4th.
Thank you to all the artists who took part and made the third 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun creating their works of art as we had viewing them!
CREATE the Summer isn’t over yet. Registration is still open for our 48-Hour Short Film Competition, happening August 20th – 22nd. We’re also holding free Art Challenges every week! Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep rocking!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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]]>Coleman was the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Short Story Competition. She can now add ‘Published Author’ to her list of achievements! “ti<” is a creative online journal, homed at Brock University’s Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture (STAC) at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, and is edited by Short Story guest judge, Dr. Catherine Parayre. To read Coleman’s fantastic tale in ti<, click here. You can learn more about Coleman and the Competition here.
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]]> 
Artwork provided by Where Anger Lies
Where Anger Lies is a three-piece rock band out of Stevensville, Ontario. Dan Boyko, Matt Smith, and Chris MacPherson formed the band during the Covid-19 lockdown, and have been writing and creating music you can rock out to ever since.
You can follow Where Anger Lies on Spotify, Facebook and Twitter!
To learn more about the Competition, click here.
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]]>Musicians took up the challenge to write and record a song in only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given a theme and lyric prompts that they had to include in their entry. Their theme was “It happened at midnight” and their two lyric prompts were “Root” and “Current”.
The musicians had a daunting task, but they were more than up to it! As the submissions came in, we were blown away by all the outstanding songs across styles and genres, from heavy hitting hard rock to soulful solo performances.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Music Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s Kateri Foreman to reveal our winner!
https://youtu.be/bb5XM2U0cDU
Congratulations, Where Anger Lies on their winning song “Scream”!
Where Anger Lies is a three-piece rock band out of Stevensville. Dan Boyko, Matt Smith, and Chris MacPherson formed the band during the Covid-19 lockdown, and have been writing and creating music you can rock out to ever since. And we have to agree, Where Anger Lies rocks!
Click here to listen to “Scream” now!
You can follow Where Anger Lies on Spotify, Facebook and Twitter!
As the winner of the Music Competition, Where Anger Lies will receive:
- A professional album-style photoshoot, courtesy of our friends at Invittco
- 1-on-1 mentor session with Entertainment Manager, Matt Guarasci
- Song published on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors Invittco, and our Partners the City of Niagara Falls, the 2022 Canada Games, and everyone at Vaylin Entertainment.
Thank you to all the musicians who took part and made the second 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun writing and recording these songs as we had listening them!
CREATE the Summer isn’t over yet. Registration is still open for our 48-Hour Short Film Competition, happening August 20th – 22nd. We’re also holding free Art Challenges every week! Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep rocking!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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]]>There are many important issues to take into consideration when it comes to photographing your art. This is especially true for new artists trying to establish themselves on a budget. If you’re hesitant to do it yourself, go with a professional. You can hire a professional photographer who specializes in taking high quality photos of fine artworks and will ensure a great result. However, this can be expensive and may not be an accessible option for many artists. As an alternative, you can always reach out to your local arts community to find a budding photographer looking to practice their skills and build their own portfolio. Win-win!
But if you’re taking part in our 48-Hour Visual Art Competition and on time crunch, or just want to do it yourself, keep reading!
Poor quality cameras and bad lighting are the main culprits behind bad art images. The last thing you want is a blurry photo that distracts from your skills, and ultimately gets your work overlooked by the judges. Taking good quality photos doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money if you follow these simple tips.
There are four key components to shooting a quality image: high resolution, well-lit, clear and in-focus.
Let’s get into it!
Tip #1: A good quality digital camera
To get a high resolution image you’ll need a good quality digital camera. When it comes to submitting work to juried competitions or festivals, we DO NOT recommend using a smartphone. The camera technology on smartphones is admittedly better than it’s ever been, and they’re a great option for easy sharing on social media, but they still fall short when it comes to taking photos of artwork for professional use. Auto settings meant for quick and easy use can over correct or dull colour and fail to capture depth in your work.
For CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Visual Art Competition, we require images to be at minimum 500 x 500 pixels and at maximum 1024 x 1024 pixels. Any smaller or larger could distort the quality of the image, making it difficult to judge the quality of the artwork itself.
A good quality digital camera doesn’t have to break the bank. But, if you don’t already own one, or a new one isn’t in the budget, you still have options.
- Borrow one from a friend or family member
- Speciality camera stores will also rent cameras and equipment at affordable daily rates
Don’t forget – If you can, use a tripod! It makes adjusting your angles, resolution, and set up a lot quicker and easier.
Tip #2: Well-lit
When lighting your work, you may be inclined to use a bright, direct light to make your work pop, but this can have the opposite effect. Ideally, you’ll want to photograph your work unframed in soft, natural light. It’s always best to avoid using flash or any direct, harsh light, especially if your work has a glossy finish or is framed. You can achieve this inside or outdoors.
Shooting indoors:
- Find a room with soft, even light
- Create a white backdrop to lay your work against – like a white sheet or pillowcase, depending on the size of your work*
- Put your work flat against a wall at a 45-degree angle to a window with indirect light
- If using an artificial light source, like a ring light, choose the softest light setting, and keep light at a 45-degree angle from the work
- If laying your work flat, use a step stool to give you more height and avoid shadows
*Using a white background will correct the white balance of your image and help stop your colours from being distorted. If you don’t have a white background option, once you’ve lined up and focused your image, take a shot with a piece of clean white paper in front of the lens for similar effect
Shooting outdoors:
It’s best to shoot outdoors on a slight overcast, cloudy day when the sun is diffused
Follow the same general guidelines for shooting indoors
Tip #3: Clear & In-focus
If you’re using a good camera in a well-lit room, you’re well on your way to taking a clear and in-focus image. Take a few test shots and review the images on your computer. Make adjustments to the lighting and focus as needed before submitting your final image(s).
Make sure to crop your image to minimize any background that may distract or distort your image. Having a clean white background, like discussed above, helps to keep your image clean and professional.
And finally…
Don’t go overboard with the photo editing. If you’ve done the work to get a high resolution image that is well lit, clear and in-focus, you shouldn’t need to mess around with photo editing software. If you aren’t familiar with this type of software there’s a good chance you’ll overcorrect or distort the image. Remember, you want your work to be hung and seen in real life. Judges want to see the most accurate true representation of your work, as it is.
Be sure to save your images as the file type and size required by the organization you’re submitting to to avoid any uploading issues. The 48-Hour Visual Art Competition requires:
- File type – .jpeg/.jpg, .png
- File size – max. 4MB
If you need to resize your files check out resizeimage.net and webresizer.com. For more tips on how to take the perfect professional photo of your art, check out this tutorial from Saatchi Online.
And that’s it! You’re ready to submit your art!
Let us know your fav tips in the comments!
Kateri Foreman
Event Organizer, CREATE Niagara
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]]>Blinking against the first few threads of grey light permeating the dawn, I stretch slowly, willing my stiff joints into action. My watch is almost at an end. Another hour and I will surrender my responsibilities. Until then our colony is in my care and I must maintain vigilance. Dark outlines are forming outside as slowly the rays of light reach the earth below. I cannot make out each shape in its entirety, but all is quiet for now. I stand and move silently from the window; it is time for another perimeter check. Generally, I like to perform a perimeter check every few hours unless there is a disturbance. Still, it wouldn’t be proper form to hand over my duties without being able to make a detailed report to my fellows.
My first stop is a check on our food stores. Rations have been low these past weeks and even now there is a low, hollow, aching in my stomach. When I arrive, I see that things are still barren, which means our expedition team hasn’t managed to return with any supplies. I sigh heavily, wondering how long it has been since I’ve experienced being truly satiated. There have been numerous expeditions off base in the past 48 hours alone, I cannot fathom how all of them managed to return empty handed. Hope is dipping, morale is low, and one wonders how much longer we’ll be able to cope under such conditions. If the Colonel were still with us things never would have deteriorated to such a state.
The Colonel was my mentor. Strong and efficient, she kept the teams running smoothly and the colony functioning at top capacity. She had no tolerance for tardiness nor sloppiness, and made it known she would accept nothing less than the best from her fellows. We depend on one another for survival after all. Though not quick to anger, I recall fondly the flash in her green eyes before you knew the storm was about to burst forth. Yes, she was an incomparable leader, overflowing with respect for our team and expecting the same in return. Lost on an expedition herself, the Colonel left with two of our other fellows on what should have been a simple supply run. Three left the safety of the colony, and only two returned.
Many tears were shed, but in the weeks that followed I was never able to discern the details of the Colonel’s demise from the survivors. I considered organizing a rescue mission, but the state of the survivors simply didn’t allow for it. Even if we could discern the proper information, they were in no state to carry out a rescue. Besides, it was clear from their story that there was no hope. Whatever had happened that fateful day, the Colonel was lost to us. We had to carry on, and so that very night I took up her mantel of night watch. Each night, patrolling the borders, ensuring that disturbances are dealt with swiftly, and alerting the others of danger. The Colonel may be gone, but she lives on in me, and I will not let her down.
My thoughts return to me quite suddenly, shaking me out of my stupor. I realize I’m still standing in front of our empty stores. Time is getting away from me, and I must move on to complete my patrol before the others arrive. As I turn to leave, I note for the record that at least our access to water seems plentiful; a positive note in my otherwise lackluster report.
Continuing on my designated route (the very same I learnt from the Colonel) I camouflage myself in the shadows. It is important to maintain absolute stealth on patrol, not only to surprise intruders, but also to avoid disturbing our fellow residents. One must not raise an alarm unintentionally and create unwanted panic. Best to be certain, be careful, be vigilant. I stop at each darkened corner, each place where the walls intersect and listen closely. The silence is complete and overwhelming. The dark would be impenetrable to lesser eyes, and I am thankful once more to the Colonel for her training.
In the final stretch of my journey, I detect a noise and stop dead in my tracks. The sound is a low rumble, followed by a higher pitched squealing. It’s coming from the next room. My mouth goes dry and my heart starts to speed up. If something has penetrated the walls this will be a full-scale emergency, I will need to sound an immediate alert. Moreover, I need to be prepared to fight. There has never been a fight in which I have not emerged victorious, though I never conflate victory with achievement. Bloodshed is not something I enjoy, nor do I cherish the notion of my more fragile fellows having to bear witness to a brutal report. Yet, this is my home and I will defend it, for all of us.
Approaching the source of the sound with the utmost concentration, each step is deliberate, each breath slowed to silence as I search it out. The sound grows louder and more belligerent as I approach. I am certain whatever is making it must sense my presence. The squeal morphs into a sickly wet wheeze, the rumble a gruff sort of scowl. When I am almost upon it, I spend a few moments steeling my courage. Then, like a moving nightmare I spring out at the sound, ready to face what may come.
It is only the Captain!
The sorry old man has fallen asleep again outside of his quarters. From the looks of him, he got too caught up in his own last meal and fell asleep on the spot. Deep, rumbling snores are churning in his chest, emerging from his stumped nose as a low wheeze. A dribble of drool is emitting from the corner of his deflated jowl. I don’t bother to try and wake him, there’s simply no point. Full light has begun to stream through the morning now, and he’ll rouse soon enough. The Captain was never one of our swiftest or most resourceful team members, but he was a dear friend to Colonel, and a comfort to our fellows in times of need. He serves his purpose well. I let him lie with a bemused smile and continue on.
My patrol is completed, the sun has risen. I wait for my fellows for several minutes, and when they fail to arrive, I make my way to their quarters for the hand off. The door is closed tightly, and from inside I can hear the sounds of even breathing. They’ve overslept, and not for the first time. The Colonel would never stand for such behavior. Without any preamble I call out, clearly and firmly, and begin to deliver my full report.
Joe rolls over in bed with a groan and shakes his wife gently awake.
“Clarissa. Clarissa. That cat of yours is howling at the door again! Really, I don’t understand how you sleep through this nonsense every morning.” Clarissa yawns and stretches.
“His food bowl is likely empty again. I’ll go fill it and he’ll quiet down.” She smiles sleepily. “Just think of him like an overeager alarm clock.” Joe grunts and tries to bury his head beneath the pillows.
“One that goes off an hour before my alarm. Every. Day.”
“Well, I’ll go feed him and you take Cappy outside for his morning constitutional. He’s not the young pug he once was and the vet doesn’t think he should be going down the back porch steps on his own anymore.”
“Yes, dear.”
The team finally emerges as I finish my report. They’re late, again. I’m not worried though, a few more weeks and they’ll be tuned up like clockwork. For the moment, my watch is ended. I head to my spot by the window and rest for the day, safe in the knowledge that I’ve kept my colony secure for another night.
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]]>Writer’s took up the challenge to write a short story in only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given a theme and word prompts that they had to include in their entry. Their theme was “The hour before” and their two word prompts were “Overflow” and “Camouflage”.
Our writers were more than up to the task and we received so many amazing short stories that varied in genre and style!
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Short Story Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s Jim Vaylin to reveal our winner!
https://youtu.be/aaKKVWarp2I
Congratulations, Mary Coleman on her winning short story “The Morning Report”!
Coleman is a 33-year-old resident of Fort Erie, Ontario. She has an educational background in Sociology from Brock University, and has been writing since she was six years old.
In her Author’s Bio, Coleman had this to say about her inspiration to write growing up and now as a Mom:
“My Father wrote for our local newspaper when I was young, so I definitely learned this creative outlet from him. I think it’s fitting that I enter such a competition on Father’s Day! As a current stay at home Mom, I also wanted to show my kids you’re never too old to try something new and exercise your creativity.”
You can read “The Morning Report” on our website, here!
As the winner of the Short Story Competition, Coleman will receive:
- $150 gift card for goods and services from Artista Design and Print Co.
- Short story published in STAC’s online journal,
ti< : a journal of text-and-image criticism/creation - Written feedback from Dr. Catherine Parayre
- Short story published on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
A special thank you to our wonderful Guest Judge, Dr. Catherine Parayre, who had the incredibly difficult task of selecting a winner.
Catherine Parayre is Associate Professor in the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture (STAC) at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University. She publishes in English, French, and German, and is co-editor of the Small Walker Press. You can learn more about Catherine and her work here.
Thank you to our friends at Artista Design and Print Co, and our Partners the City of Niagara Falls, the 2022 Canada Games, and everyone at Vaylin Entertainment.
Thank you to all of the writers who took part and made the first 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We were blown away by all the amazing writing talent here in Niagara. We hope they had as much fun writing these stories as we had reading them!
CREATE the Summer is just getting started. We’ve got 3 more 48-Hour Competitions on the way and free Art Challenges every week! Be sure to check out our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe, keep writing, keep creating!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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