Courtesy Image Erwin P. Lewandowski’s, an Alpena resident, work titled “Oceanside I.” This artwork, created with colored pencil, ink, and graphite, won Lewandowski TopArtAwards.com’s First Place Award for December 2023.

TopArtAwards.com just announced the winners of the juried Art Masters Year End 2023 Exhibition.

Artist Erwin P. Lewandowski, an Alpena resident, was awarded the First Place Award for December 2023.

TopArtAwards.com is a virtual art gallery located in Phoenix promoting artists’ work from around the world since 2020.

“What a surprise gift to receive this month,” Lewandowski said. “I recently learned about the competition and after viewing the hundreds of worldwide entries thought it would be a new experience for me. What an interesting outcome.”

Lewandowski maintains a studio/residence along Thunder Bay in Alpena. He graduated from the Fine Arts Department at Central Michigan University. He also received additional training at Eastern Michigan University.

Lewandowski’s second career as a professional artist began in 2004, which followed 25 years of business development and management.

As an artist he’s managed to find a comfortable blend of artistic skill, styles of work, subjects of interest, medium preferences, and a business plan that includes issues in both accounting and marketing associated with a fine arts career.