First Place Award of Excellence
 16 and Under/ Takeover:  Small-Scale Works by Members of The San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild
Live at SHIFT Gallery, 4847 Newport Avenue, OCEAN BEACH November 3 – December 17, 2026
Online through December 2024: www.sdmaag.org
Juror:  BARBARA SEXTON Artist/Professor of Fine Art, San Diego Mesa College (ret.)
 

Congratulations to our 
First Place Award of Excellence Winner  
Jo Ann Bray was awarded the first place for her acrylic painting Between Brush Strokes.

About Jo Ann: I am a figurative artist inspired by the work of John Sloan, Richard Diebenkorn, Eric Fischl, and Edward Hopper. My paintings explore the relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit, from cafés and city streets to quiet interiors and familiar gathering places. I am drawn to the stories that unfold in these environments—the subtle interactions, fleeting expressions, and everyday moments that reveal our shared humanity.

Working primarily in acrylic and oil, I have recently expanded both the scale and expressive range of my paintings. Through bold color, dramatic contrasts, and expressive use of light, I seek to capture the atmosphere of a place and the emotional connections between people and their surroundings.

My work has been exhibited throughout San Diego County. Most recently, a painting was included in the San Diego Watercolor Society’s International Show. I have received awards and recognition from Art on 30th, San Diego County Fair, North Coastal Art Gallery, Escondido Art Association, Foothills Gallery, and Reigning Cats and Dogs.

About Between Brush Strokes:  My painting, Between Brush Strokes, was inspired by my own experiences as an artist. I tend to work quickly, but over time, I have come to appreciate the value of slowing down, reflecting, and becoming more intentional about what I want to communicate through my work. Although the painting is not a self-portrait, it draws from my personal journey as a painter and my growing awareness of the balance between spontaneity and thoughtful expression.

Website:  https://www.joannbray.com