The Santa Clarita Artists Association’s fine arts competition on Oct. 17, co-sponsored by the County of Los Angeles, will be held at Hart Hall, William S. Hart Park in Newhall. This is the 26th annual Art Classic.

Professional artists and judges for this event will be:

Linda Du Pas

* Linda Du Pas is a member of the prestigious Oil Painters of America and California Art Club. She received much of her art education at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and studied extensively with respected contemporary artists through private classes and workshops. She is greatly influenced by the style and tradition of early California Impressionists. She has developed a style that is uniquely her own but is always exploring new techniques. Her paintings are in private and corporate collections in the United States and Europe, including the corporate office of Hormel Foods in Minnesota, the west wing lobby of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California, and Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, California.

“I would like those who view my paintings to feel uplifted and peaceful. With light and color, I strive to capture the many moods of nature and draw attention to the beauty that surrounds us, even in the most everyday scenes,” said Du Pas. This reverence for nature is evident in her works: see http://lindadupas.com

* Gary Moss is a professional photographer, educator, lecturer and mentor, based in Los Angeles. He amassed a solid reputation and prolific body of work over 30-years, specializing in travel, food, celebrity portrait, advertising and editorial photography. His work has appeared in Bon Appétit, Cigar Aficionado, Coastal Living, Condé Nast Traveler, Family Fun, Food Arts, LA Times Magazine, Men’s Health, National Geographic Traveler, Newsweek, New York Times Magazine, Outside, People, Robb Report, Rolling Stone, Sunset, Time and TV Guide.

On the advertising side his commercial portfolio includes prestigious clientele as Caesars Palace, Four Seasons, NBC Universal, Nestle USA, Wells Fargo and Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. He is photo editor for 805 Living, a Southern California lifestyle magazine.

Mayor Marsha McLean will give an opening presentation. A special “Excellence in Art” award will be presented by the City of Santa Clarita.

Members’ original art will be judged in the following categories: oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, sculpture, dry media, mixed media, and “Masters” class. For the first time, awards will also be given for best overall for Landscape/Seascape, Still Life, Floral, Animal/Bird, Abstract, and Portrait. A “Best of Show” award will also be given.

Funds raised from art sales, raffle and silent auction will support the SCAA scholarship program and local art enrichment programs. The vision of the Santa Clarita Artists Association is to “make visual art visible.”

The award Gala celebration will be Saturday, Oct. 17, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with food, beverages and “Big Band” music. Tickets ($25 each) may be purchased at www.santaclaritaartists.org or call 661 252-7639.

A free public viewing of the art will be on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hart Hall.