FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE

American Art Awards President Thom Bierdz Of CBS's The Young & The Restless Announces International Art Contest Winners.

Biggest Art Competition Crowns Winners In Twenty Countries.

Los Angeles/ September 8, 2011/ American Art Awards president Thom Bierdz who plays Phillip Chancellor III on CBSs The Young and the Restless announces the winners in all 56 categories at www.AmericanArtAwards.com. The American Art Awards, judged by 25 American galleries, is global-wide to painters, photographers and sculptors making it the most recognized online art competition in the world. BEST OF SHOW goes to Bruce Lawes of Canada for his oil painting of a richly veined horse titled Zenyatta. Lawes studied with modern masters and has excelled in carpentry, Falconry and taxidermy. American artisans claim the majority of the 300 awards. Winners also represent Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, New Zealand, Romania, South Africa, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Felicity Tyler, a 14 year-old Australian girl, wins the TEEN BULLYING category for her painting of a sheep with the words The Nature Of A Bystander. The 2011 American Art Awards were decided by voting galleries. These include: Walter Wickiser Gallery (New York City, New York), Exposed Gallery (Phoenix, Arizona), Downey Gallery (New Mexico), June Fitzpatrick Gallery (Portland, Maine.), Eva Reynolds Fine Arts (Kansas City, Missouri), JKK Fine Arts (Upper Montclair, New Jersey), Annie Kaill's Gallery (Juneau, Alaska), Monty Stabler Galleries (Birmingham, Alabama), Prairie Edge Fine Art (Rapid City, South Dakota), Southern Breeze Gallery (Ridgeland, Mississippi), Wolfgang Roth & Partners Fine Art Gallery (Miami, Florida) Painters Chair Fine Art Gallery (Couer d Alene, Idaho), Stephanos Gallery (Little Rock, Arkansas)

McColl Fine Art (Charlotte, North Carolina) Sunshine Arts (Kaneohe, Hawaii), Depot Gallery (Ennis, Montana), Mill Brook Gallery (Concord, New Hampshire) Divergence Fine Art (Baltimore, Maryland). American Art Awards is an annual competition that has increased global recognition by 67% in the past year. www.americanartawards.com ABOUT THOM BIERDZ Thom Bierdz is known to millions as Phillip Chancellor III on CBSs long-running number one daytime drama The Young & The Restless. He is the author of the number one best-selling memoir, Forgiving Troy. An accomplished artist painting in almost as many of the 56 categories of the American Art Awards, he has received international acclaim for his work and is regularly on television and radio. His art is collected by many celebrities from Scarlett Johannson to Bruce Vilanche. Bierdz, the only out gay actor on daytime, is also an activist. He recently completed a series of paintings titled GAY CELEB PAINTS STRAIGHT CELEBS GAY where he playfully depicts famous straight male movie stars as gay lovers to create visuals to relax people into the inevitable future where gay men will be accepted in every occupation. Its not scary, its sweet, Bierdz said. ABOUT AMERICAN ART AWARDS The American Art Awards is an annual international competition open to artists in 56 categories ranging from Art Brut to Realism. The event recognizes commercial talent in painting, photography and sculpture. Note to News Editors: To receive more information or schedule an interview with Thom Bierdz or any of the 2011 winners, please contact amerartawards@aol.com or call 310.272.3300. Attached image shows upcoming issue of ARABELLA magazine featuring BEST OF SHOW winner Bruce Lawes winning paintings. Also in image are Felicity Tylers winning painting of a sheep, Thom Bierdz with Jeanne Cooper at recent soap opera event, and Bierdzs painting of Johnny Depp and Sean Penn as a gay couple with child. WINNERS OF THE 2011 AMERICAN ART AWARDS

CATEGORY 1 - OIL HUMAN FIGURE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th John Brigden Bruce Lawes Bruce Lawes Bruce Lawes Lori Escalera Ione Citrin

CATEGORY 2 - ACRYLIC HUMAN FIGURE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Ted Hayward Dan Simoneau Donald Rizzo Vlasta Smola Dan Simoneau Ron Haselton

CATEGORY 3 - WATER COLOR 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Tom Ellis Jenik Cook Rachel Wang Sreenivasan Seshadri Armie Flores Sreenivasan Seshadri

CATEGORY 4 - CHARCOAL/INK/PENCIL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Sheona Hamilton-Grant Sheona Hamilton-Grant John Hammer Ron Haselton Jenik Cook Rachel Wang

CATEGORY 5 PASTELS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Courtney Blanchard Paul Belsito Diego Savloff Diego Savloff Diego Savloff Paul Belsito

CATEGORY 6 ABSTRACT

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Hilary Winfield Karen Hanson Hilary Winfield Curt Ginther Curt Ginther Divna Pesic

CATEGORY 7 - ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Jenik Cook Elinore Bucholtz Sheila Grabarsky Sheila Grabarsky Rosie Harper Divna Pesic

CATEGORY 8 - ART BRUT 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th James Bloom James Bloom Sreenivasan Seshadri James Bloom Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez

CATEGORY 9 - ART DECO 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Rosie Harper Stephan Stephan Vlasta Smola Stephan Nick Mitchell

CATEGORY 10 CUBISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Melissa Leslie-Quinones Youssef Rami Antonius Kho Donald Rizzo Masako Sasaki Antonius Kho

CATEGORY 11 EROTIC 1st Donald Rizzo 2nd Bruce Lawes

3rd 4th 5th 6th

Bruce Lawes John Hammer Robert Ferguson Deon Steyn

CATEGORY 12 - EXPRESSIONISM HUMAN FIGURE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Bruce Lawes Bruce Lawes Rachel Wang Dean Loucks Poul A. Costinsky Kimberly Shim

CATEGORY 13 - EXPRESSIONISM OTHER 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Mike Bell Poul A. Costinsky Poul A. Costinsky Mike Bell Dean Loucks Kimberly Shim

CATEGORY 14 - FANTASY LANDSCAPE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Stephen Dobson Linda McKenny Ione Citrin Linda McKenny Ione Citrin Madonna Tyler

CATEGORY 15 FASHION 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Kathleen Laybourn Rachel Wang Ron Burkhardt Tanya Mikaela Ione Citrin Kathleen Laybourn

CATEGORY 16 - FLORAL NOT REALISTIC 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Patti Cliffton Lori Escalera Rose-Marie Goodwin Rachel Wang

5th Tom Ellis 6th Chris Mann CATEGORY 17 -- FLORAL REALISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th John Brigden Rachel Wang Christian Keung Tournier Bernard Rachel Wang Tournier Bernard

CATEGORY 18 FUTURISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Rosie Harper Dean Loucks Ione Citrin Tanya Mikaela Rachel Wang Kimberly Shim

CATEGORY 19 HUMOROUS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Poul A. Costinsky Allen Schmertzler Lori Escalera James Bloom Donald Rizzo James Bloom

CATEGORY 20 -- IMPRESSIONISM ANIMAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Sue Katz Connie Geerts Connie Geerts Vlasta Smola A S Helwig Jessica Wicken

CATEGORY 21 - IMPRESSIONISM HUMAN 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Donald Rizzo Tom Ellis Kimberly Shim Nick Mitchell Kimberly Shim Rachel Wang

CATEGORY 22 - IMPRESSIONISM LANDSCAPE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Paul V. Bonneau Connie Geerts Paul Ferguson Raymond Quenneville Joseph Swenarten A. S. Helwig

CATEGORY 23 - IMPRESSIONISM STILL LIFE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Patti Cliffton Sue Katz Lori Escalera Sue Katz Lori Escalera Chris Mann

CATEGORY 24 - INNOVATIVE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Martin Varholik Terry Evans Terry Evans Donald Rizzo Joseph Swenarton Rachel Wang

CATEGORY 25 MINIMALISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Karen Hanson Karen Hanson Alexis West / ALXSw Karen Hanson Ricardo Ramirez Elizabeth Dawson

CATEGORY 26 - NAVE ART HUMAN FIGURE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th James Bloom Mihai Dascalu Lorrie Shelton Radford James Bloom Ricardo Ramirez Ricardo Ramirez

CATEGORY 27 - NAIVE ART OTHER

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Mihai Dascalu Lorrie Shelton Radford Chris Price Antonius Kho Antonius Kho Ricardo Ramirez

CATEGORY 28 - ASIAN (CAN BE SUBJECT MATTER) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Hilary Winfield Chris Mann Jessica Wicken John Hammer Diego Savloff Chris Price

CATEGORY 29 - POLITICAL COMMENTARY 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th John Hammer David Shaughnessy James Bloom Allen Schmertzler Allen Schmertzler Allen Schmertzler

CATEGORY 30 - POP ART 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th John Brigden Ron Haselton Deon Steyn John Hammer Rachel Wang Tanya Mikaela

CATEGORY 31 - PORTRAIT OF SOMEONE FAMOUS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Courtney Blanchard Cassandra Allsworth Cassandra Allsowrth Paul Belsito Bruce Lawes Paul Belsito

CATEGORY 32 - PORTRAIT OF SOMEONE NOT FAMOUS 1st Elena Mashajeva-Agraphiotis

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Ernie L. Fournet Sheona Hamilton-Grant Elena Mashajeva-Agraphiotis Donald Rizzo Kathleen Laybourn

CATEGORY 33 - REALISM ANIMAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Bruce Lawes --- BEST OF SHOW Sheona Hamilton-Grant John Brigden Bruce Lawes Dean Loucks Ted Hayward

CATEGORY 34 - REALISM HUMAN 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Bruce Lawes Ernie L. Fournet Stephen Dobson Sheona Hamilton-Grant Christian Keung Jenik Cook

CATEGORY 35 - REALISM LANDSCAPE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Peter Gough Peter Gough Paul V. Bonneau John Brigden Stephen Dobson Linda McKenny

CATEGORY 36 - REALISM LANDSCAPE WITH FIGURES 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Dan Simoneau Peggy Converse Lance Anderson Lance Anderson Stephen Dobson Hillary Scott

CATEGORY 37 - REALISM STILL LIFE 1st John Brigden 2nd Tom Ellis 3rd John Hammer

4th Lori Escalera 5th Barbara Pelizzoli 6th Rachel Wang CATEGORY 38 RELIGIOUS 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Divna Pesic Armie Flores Kimberly Shim Kimberly Shim Josephine Wall Josephine Wall

CATEGORY 39 RENAISSANCE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Vlasta Smola Luis Contreras Tanya Mikaela Luis Contreras Tom Ellis Chris Price

CATEGORY 40 ROMANTICISM 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Marne Adler Marne Adler John Hammer Seda Baghdasarian Seda Baghdasarian Ione Citrin

CATEGORY 41 - SELF-PORTRAIT 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Vlasta Smola Luis Contreras John Nolan Rachel Wang Armie Flores Tanya Mikaela

CATEGORY 42 SPIRITUAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Kathleen Laybourn Ernie L. Fournet Karen Starrett Karen Starrett Chris Price

6th Tanya Mikaela CATEGORY 43 - NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY ANIMAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Sean Carr Doug Bisson Lance Larson Lance Larson Patricia Seiber Dana Hetzer

CATEGORY 44 - NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY HUMAN 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Terry Scopelitti Alexis West / ALXSw Lance Larson Tom Atwood Dennis Doyle Calvin Britton

CATEGORY 45 - NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Dennis Doyle Sean Carr Johnny Vinton Janet Leong Johnny Vinton Lesley Bohm

CATEGORY 46 - NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY STILL LIFE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Lance Larson Calvin Britton Johnny Vinton Johnny Vinton Dana Hetzer Lance Larson

CATEGORY 47 - MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY ANIMAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Kevin Petrin Jackson G. Reiner Cecelia Norton David A. Peterson Amber Taylor Kevin Petrin

CATEGORY 48 - MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY HUMAN 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Skylar Aud Paul Bradley Dan Simoneau Stephan Honicki David A. Peterson Lionel Andre

CATEGORY 49 - MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Johnny Nicoloro Richard Todd David A. Peterson Richard Todd David A. Peterson Richard Todd

CATEGORY 50 - MANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY STILL LIFE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Stephan Honicki Skylar Aud Skylar Aud Reene Wessls Paul Bradley Johnny Nicoloro

CATEGORY 51 DIGITAL ART REPRESENTATIONAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Marisa Atha Paul Bradley John Brigden Terry Scopelitti Marisa Atha Paul Bradley

CATEGORY 52 DIGITAL ART NON-REPRESENTATIONAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Asheligh Martin Varholik Richard Todd Erika M. Klein Alexis West / ALXSw Richard Todd

CATEGORY 53 SCULPTURE REPRESENTATIONAL

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

Kathleen Laybourn Roger Reutimann Connie Geerts Roger Reutimann Ione Citrin Ione Citrin

CATEGORY 54 SCULPTURE NON-REPRESENTATIONAL 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Jim Lorriman John Paul Goodyear John Paul Goodyear John Paul Goodyear Kevin L. OBrien Tanja Toniolo & Diego Tschurtschenthaler

CATEGORY 55 - JEWELRY 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Babs Noelle Danielle Benson Babs Noelle Zandrina Stewart Zandrina Stewart Wendy Griffin

SPECIAL 2011 CATEGORY TEEN BULLYING 1st Felicity Tyler 2nd Zachery Lehr 3rd Zachery Lehr 4th Zachery Lehr 5th Katerina Vega 6th Asheligh