The inspiring artists and writers that were selected for the December 2017 ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal issue and online exhibition themed Paradise.

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Thomas Zika

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Thomas Zika’s rich array of motifs akin to the Japanese ukiyo-e tradition reflect a paradisiacal realm. In his recent Somnambule series, he offers an adaptation of the Garden of Eden filled with collaged elements taken from various sources.

Thomas Zika is the Gold Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Susan Nickerson

Tan Lines

The colours of the morning were so vibrant, I swear I heard them breath as Peter and I ambled across the golden grains of sand. We stood at the water’s edge as the tide lapped our toes and washed our troubles away. Lush silence rendered us speechless; we exchanged the word with our eyes. Paradise… in the Leeward Islands…

Do angels laugh? Our idea of a paradisiac place or situation is often infused with a sense of a deep serenity, stillness, and peace. Susan Nickerson challenges such constructs with the short story she presents here; it deals with the funny side of paradise, showing the readers that humourous events can unexpectedly happen there too.

Susan Nickerson is the Gold Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for writers. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Robert Tokley

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

For painter Robert Tokley, paradise can be found in the landscapes of his home country of Canada. He celebrates this North American nature through the use of vibrant colour and brilliant pattern, and shares this paradise with his viewers one composition at a time.

Robert Tokley is the Silver Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.roberttokley.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Hayley Haddad

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, paradise is “a place or condition of great happiness where everything is exactly as you would like it to be.” We tend to think about paradise as an immutable, stable, and permanent state of mind. Hayley Haddad provides us with a different perspective, showing that paradise can also be one side of a complex, polarized coin.

Hayley Haddad is the Bronze Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for artists. To see the full body of work and profile, get a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.hayleyhaddadart.squarespace.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Carla Cosenza Mormile

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
https://www.lensculture.com/carla-cosenza-mormile

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Alex Ferrone

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.AlexFerrone.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Vasile Ghiuta

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.vasileghiuta.ca

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Bieke Stengos

Quinten’s Song

We ran through the damp tunnel,
the weight of the mighty river above us.
In places where water pooled,
we laughed and skipped
and then we laughed some more…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
https://bieke.stengos.cammaert.eu

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Robin Ay

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.RAconcepts.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Coriana Close

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.coriana.co

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Shawn Golder

A Kind of Place

It was hot, the kind of humid, permeating hot only the delta could be. Dex wiped away another tidal wave of sweat and cursed. Today was creeping closer to hell by the minute and being early afternoon there were still many minutes to go. Just remember, the darkest nights produce the most beautiful dawns, Dex thought…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
https://medium.com/@shawngolder

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Clare Haxby

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.clarehaxby.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Debbie A. McClure

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.damcclure.net

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Debbie A. McClure

I Must Have Been a Mermaid

When I was a child, going to the beach with my family was Nirvana. I was born and raised in London, Ontario, a medium-sized city, in a family-oriented neighborhood. I loved where we lived and felt safe there, but once my toes hit the sand and my eyes rested on the waves, I was home. Truly home. I could breathe…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.damcclure.net

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Jerry Sims

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
http://artistsites.org/jerrysimsphotography/

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Hayley Haddad

Flowers and Saga

Cities outline cerulean skies in her eyes.
Deep gray marble
Translucent light life
Of green flecked painted galaxies
Suspended
Racing
Emancipating the landscape…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.hayleyhaddadart.squarespace.com

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Jaybees

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see this in print, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.jaybees.org

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Yulianna

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.yulianna.ca

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Rosie Sherman

ArtAscent Artist of the Paradise call for artists

Distinguished Artist of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.
www.rosie-sherman.pixels.com

ArtAscent Writer of the Paradise call for artists

Jason G Baluyot

Dear Dedra

Could it be, that the sun loved the earth so much she
gave him the gift of light so he would flourish?
If you ask me to watch the sunset, with you by my side,
the sunset would be the last thing I’ll notice…

Distinguished Writer of the ArtAscent Paradise call for entry. To see the full body of work, grab a copy of the ArtAscent Art & Literature Journal Paradise issue.