The South Walton Tourist Development Council (TDC) is encouraging South Walton artists to enter the competition for 2013 Artist of the Year. Over the past several years, South Walton has gained a national reputation not only for its spectacular white sand beaches, but also for its thriving arts community. To showcase the wealth of artistic talent in South Walton, the destination produces the Artist of the Year program, in which one local artist is recognized for work that exemplifies South Walton’s lifestyle and heritage. That artist is featured prominently in the destination’s arts promotions throughout the year.

Since its inception ten years ago, the program has expanded to include non-traditional mediums in addition to the more conventional mediums of paint, sculpture and photography.

South Walton’s 2012 Artist of the Year, Allison Craft, works in the medium of jewelry, creating one-of-a-kind pieces fashioned with freshwater pearls and leather. Her work is featured in galleries in South Walton and across the country, and has gained national attention both for Allison and the destination.

Allison Wickey, 2011’s Artist of the Year, recreates South Walton’s natural landscapes through a 13-step process involving Venetian plaster on wooden frames. Her work has been featured by national design retailers Crate & Barrel and Ballard Designs.

Other past Artist of the Year honorees include Michael Granberry, a photographic artist from Seaside who honed his craft over the past 30 years; abstract artist Michael McCarty, who produces contemporary, modern art with acrylic on canvas; watercolorist Donna Burgess, who captures the beauty and joy of coastal life through her multimedia interpretations; wood artisan Bill Stephenson, who creates one-of-a-kind woodturnings in his Santa Rosa Beach studio; and, Phil Kiser, who has dedicated his life to dimensional glass mosaic art.

Only Walton County residents (one year minimum) are eligible to enter the competition. A panel of judges from marketing, public relations and arts backgrounds will score each submission on originality, authenticity, marketability and overall appeal. The artist selected will be announced at the South Walton TDC’s annual meeting in October. Deadline for submissions is September 2, 2012.

More details and the official application can be downloaded at www.VisitSouthWalton.org/awards-programs.