1st Place Winner — “In Full Color: Women Creating Boldly” Donna Faranda
The “In Full Color: Women Creating Boldly” exhibition honors artists whose work demonstrates fearless creativity and a powerful command of color. This year’s first-place recognition goes to Donna Faranda, an artist whose work beautifully bridges tradition and technology while exploring the complex emotional landscapes of the female experience.
Drawing inspiration from the elegance of Japanese woodblock prints and the romantic intensity of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Donna’s work carries a sense of historical depth and mythic storytelling. At the same time, her artistic process is distinctly contemporary. Using digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter, she creates layered compositions that reinterpret classical influences through a modern lens. Her pointillist-inspired approach results in vibrant, expressive works that feel both timeless and innovative.
Donna’s artistic voice is rooted in the exploration of fantasy and truth, where stories, symbolism, and color merge to illuminate the emotional and psychological dimensions of womanhood. Her award-winning piece exemplifies this vision, blending historical inspiration with bold digital craftsmanship to create a work that is both visually captivating and conceptually rich.
In this interview, Donna reflects on her artistic influences, the inspiration behind her winning work, and how she uses modern digital tools to breathe new life into traditional artistic movements.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an artist—how you first discovered your passion for art and what has shaped your creative path over the years?
I find my inspiration from Japanese Wood block prints and Pre-Raphaelite paintings. These historical works saturate her pieces with a sense of timelessness. Yet, my choice of a computer program as my primary art medium places me firmly in the realm of contemporary art-making. By embracing modern technology, I reinterpret these classical influences through a digital lens, creating works that feel both nostalgic and forward-thinking.. At the heart of my artwork lies a fascination with the interplay of fantasy and truth. Characterized by visible, short brushstrokes, open composition, and vibrant, unblended colors My creations speak to a realm where stories and symbols come alive, where ancient tales are re-imagined through a state-of-the-art viewpoint. The result is a body of work that honors the past while challenging contemporary perceptions of femininity, identity, and self-expression. Through my art, I offer a playful yet profound exploration of the desires and dreams that shape the female experience.I am also very much inspired by the Impressionism, 19th-century art movement. . This style which is characterized by visible, short brushstrokes, open composition, and vibrant nnever fails to 5, unblended colors
Every great work of art starts with a spark. Can you tell us about the specific inspiration behind your winning entry? Was there a particular moment, emotion, or observation that compelled you to bring this vision to life?
At the heart of my artwork lies a fascination with the interplay of color, fantasy and truth. Impressionism art, characterized by visible, short brushstrokes, open composition, and vibrant, unblended colors, which stimulate my creative juices.
This contest celebrates the power and vibrancy of color. How did you decide on your specific color palette for this work, and what mood or message were you hoping those choices would communicate to the viewer?
Since I discovered that I could create art work on my computer, it has become the tool of my medium. First working in Adobe Photoshop, I create collages where I can designate, delineate the various areas of color. Working on a tracing paper overlay in Corel Painter, I also can play with the many layers to get the various effects that I desire. This allows me to paint in a pointillist style, placing each individual dot by clicking on my computer screen. First I work in Adobe Photoshop, I create collages where I can designate, delineate the various areas of color. I then import my image to Corel Painter where I can place each individual on various layer have an unlimited pallet with which to work from. Working on a tracing paper overlay in Corel Painter.
Looking ahead, what direction do you see your art evolving toward, and are there any upcoming projects or exhibitions you’re particularly excited about?
I am actually in the process of re-committing myself to making art again. Two and a half years ago I fell and fractured both my wrist after healing I found difficult to get in the swing of things. I am now in the process of making aI am now in the process of expanding my style well as promoting my art artwork I look forward to exploring new venues and looking into experimenting more painting in discovering new techniques.
As an online art contest, your work is being viewed on screens all over the world. How does it feel to share your art in a digital space compared to a physical gallery, and how do you think that accessibility impacts the way people connect with your message?
Visual art exhibits serve as essential platforms for artists to showcase their work, build careers, and connect with audiences, while offering viewers opportunities for education, cultural engagement, and emotional inspiration
Anything else you want our audience to know about you?
As an Artist, I can weave together the threads of myth and reality while exploring the deep, multifaceted nature of the female psyche. With a unique approach that blends traditional inspiration with cutting-edge technology, My artwork serves as a bridge between the past and the present, the tangible world and the dreamlike. My pointillist pieces, created using a computer painting program, breathe life into my powerful creations, capturing the inner stories of women and the emotional landscapes they navigate.
Donna Faranda’s work demonstrates how art can honor history while simultaneously embracing the possibilities of modern technology. By weaving together influences from Impressionism, Japanese woodblock traditions, and Pre-Raphaelite imagery with digital pointillist techniques, she creates a visual language that feels both nostalgic and distinctly contemporary.
Her journey also reflects resilience and renewal. After recovering from a significant injury that temporarily interrupted her creative practice, Donna is now recommitting herself to expanding her artistic voice, exploring new techniques, and sharing her work with broader audiences.
Through vibrant color, mythic symbolism, and deeply expressive imagery, Donna’s artwork invites viewers into a space where imagination and lived experience intersect. Her pieces explore the inner narratives of women, the dreams, desires, and emotional landscapes that shape identity and self-expression.
We congratulate Donna Faranda on receiving first place in the “In Full Color: Women Creating Boldly” exhibition and look forward to witnessing the continued evolution of her distinctive and powerful artistic vision.
