Mandrill Mouth. Oil on Canvas by Sarah Smith. "I would like the viewer to see endangered species, such as the mandrill, as I do - a work of art in itself. Most of the species depicted in my artwork are under critical threat; the direct result of greed & neglect. From the earliest artwork, seen in cave paintings, we can observe the decline of respect for our animal neighbors. Once idolized and worshiped, they are now replaced by industrialization, technology, and other cultural advances. Once revered, now hunted and killed for Chinese medicine, bushmeat, ivory, & fur trade. Although man has always has always changed his means of existence, means of survival in the animal kingdom has remained the same - their only necessity is their territory and the natural resources that come along with it.

My work highlights species which are truly works of art themselves. These paintings convey a sense of protection. They have been given a safe environment between the confines of a canvas, where no one else can enter. They are in their own space, where we can only stand from a distance, observe, and appreciate."

Sarah is one of our first entries from New Jersey! Thanks to a clarification on the law we may now accept entries from this fine state. Thank you Sarah for pointing this out.

To see more work by Sarah Smith please look at her websitewww.sarahsmithart.com