Meet our Winners for the National July 4th Veterans Art Competition

Heart of the Patriot, John Katerberg, Army

Meaning: Heart of the Patriot depicts the feeling many veterans experience as they take the uniform off for the last time. The flag of patriotism flies through the veteran and service person from the first time they raise their right hand until their last breath.

Artist Biography: John Katerberg is a West Michigan artist who focuses on painting and printmaking. His work can be found in homes, businesses, colleges, and churches around the world. John is a Graduate of Kendall College of Art, with a BFA in fine art-painting. John ‘s art has won awards in local and regional art competitions. John is also a combat veteran of Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, with numerous awards and citations including the combat action badge and the purple heart medal from being wounded in combat. John has also volunteered as an art instructor locally for A.C.T. (Artists Creating Together), The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, and in Florida at the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay, Pinellas County Jail, and West care of Pinellas County.  John’s current work combines elements of man and the sublime presence of God with scenes of awe in nature. John’s current groundbreaking work combines his love of reduction printmaking and painting. Working on sheet brass, John completes a landscape painting and then using pneumatic grinders and engraving tools, the brightest areas of the composition come alive with glowing and shimmering brass. The reflection of light on John’s paintings inspired him to name this new technique “Illuminated Brass” paying homage to the illuminators of the 4th and 5th centuries that created art to help draw people closer to God.

Learn more about John at https://www.art4eternity.com/

Celebrating the 4th, Don Engler, Army

Meaning: This piece reminds us to celebrate our freedom as our forefathers did when our country fought for it's independence.

Artist Biography: Don started out early as a sign painter for a company in Louisville, KY. He was then drafted in the Army and served a tour in Vietnam. After returning to civilian life, he worked for several companies doing fashion art and home furnishing art. In the early 70's, Don was hired as an illustrator/visual information specialist at Fort Knox, KY. During this time, Don also kept busy with commission work from companies like Ranger Boats, Farm Credit Services, and The International Rodeo Association. In 1998, he retired from his civil service position to enjoy fishing, hunting and painting. Don hopes that, even if you don't buy his prints or originals, you enjoy looking at them. If you want something special painted, he would be glad to do it for you.

Learn more about Don at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/don-engler/shop

Our Judges

Simon Winegar

Creating moods that are often romantic and thought provoking, Simon Winegar’s tonalist landscapes are meant to provide collectors with a view of the world that runs counter to some of the more negative versions of it that are found in today’s culture. Sometimes it seems like we live in an ugly, unforgiving world,” says Winegar. “So the point of what I do is to attempt to beautify the world. I want to create a mood that moves the viewer.” American Art Collector, March 2008
Simon Winegar was born in Utah in 1979 and grew up in the suburbs of Salt Lake City. Believing to be an artist since birth, some of his first memories are of Crayola crayons and Watercolor paints.

Since entering the market in 2000, Winegar’s work became at once respected and honored. He has been featured in many magazines, books and art venues that have shown his work in a light of professionalism and quality. His work shows in some of the most respected galleries in the United States and has been seen in almost a dozen one-man-shows to date. Winegar’s art has also adorned the walls of the Springville Art Museum, The Museum of Church History and Art and the International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art.
While known mostly as a landscape painter, Winegar doesn’t limit himself to this subject alone. He can be seen painting figure, still life, seascape, and historic works of art--anything that inspires him. “There is so much to learn and explore in the world, I don’t see why anyone would limit themselves artistically without a good reason. I think it is important to try new things and always be growing as an artist. Without this continual stimulation and growth, the artistic mind becomes stagnant.

Learn more about Simon at www.winegarfineart.com

Dan Young

Dan Young was born in Denver, and grew up in western Colorado. “ Camping and fishing through out the Rocky Mountains as a child, has been a strong influence on me and my work,” Young stated. He attended Colorado Institute of Art, hoping to find a direction in art. After graduation he moved to Dallas to pursue the commercial art field. Even with a successful Illustration career, the landscape was always calling him back. In 1989, he returned to Colorado to begin painting full time. Young enjoys painting the rural life of the west, the ranches that dot the mountain valleys and river bottoms. He states,“ Though I’m a landscape painter, I like introducing hints of man’s presence in the landscape. Sometimes I feel I’m in a race to paint a disappearing way of life. It’s hard to watch so many of the family farms and ranches being swallowed up by development.” 

Young clings strongly to the importance of painting from life. He feels painting from life was the most important stepping stone for his career. Most days you can find him painting along a backroad or beside a mountain lake.

“I still spend about 50 percent of my time painting on location. That’s what drew me to painting, the love of being out in nature and trying to accurately capture it on canvas. I still get excited when I head out for a day of painting. It doesn’t matter if I paint in Alaska or out my front door, it helps keep me fresh to paint on location,” he says.

Learn more about Dan at www.danyoungstudio.com

CAVARTS is a 3500+ member strong community of Veterans and Active Duty Service Members who come together to share their artwork, grow their skills, and find camaraderie.

To learn more and join, please visit www.cavarts.org