The poster winner

Every year, the Citizens' Council for the Arts sponsors an open contest for the design of the annual Art on the Green Poster. This year's winner is Alan McNiel of Troy, Mont. His winning entry for this year's Art on the Green poster, was an oil and encaustic mix on canvas over a panel. He calls it "Blue Milk Bone."

Since 1997, Alan has won six other awards from Art on the Green, including prior posters in 1997 and 2006, and the Best of Show Award in 1999.

Alan McNiel's paintings are found in public and private art collections throughout the world. Since earning a Masters Degree from the University of Montana in 1987, McNiel has worked with a variety of media including wood-fired ceramics, sculpture, and painting.

Most recently he's developed a unique series of mixed-media paintings which combine oil paint, encaustic, and black and white photography.

More of his work can be found at Art Fusion Gallery (Bigfork, Montana), or at www.alanmcniel.com.