MOSES LAKE - Tyler Sauter was receiving plenty of well-wishes Friday night after his oil painting "Primary Roses," won the Artists' Choice Award at the Desert Artist Miniature Art Show.

People didn't hesitate to congratulate Sauter personally during at the event held at Moses Lake's Sterling Savings Bank.

"That's really beautiful," said one well-wisher to Sauter.

The show was open to members of Desert Artists and the public, like Sauter. He is 16 and a junior at Moses Lake High School.

"I just like painting flowers," he said. "They are simple if you want to go that way, but you can get really detailed with them."

He didn't want to just paint red roses, so he decided to feature the primary colors.

"I just started planning and it kind of went that way," Sauter said.

He received help from his art teachers at the high school.

He spent 20 hours on the piece one weekend to finish on time. Sauter started painting last year during a class.

He completed three art classes and "is slowly getting better and better," he said.

He plans to take Advanced Art Studies next semester.

Award winners include: first, Lili Lathrop; second, Judy Kalin; third, Carol Billings; honorable mentions, Jan Shaw and Phyllis Peterson.

Bernice Jingling, of Moses Lake, said she attended the show and reception to support a friend. Jingling enjoyed seeing the paintings.

David and Phyllis O'Brien of Moses Lake were among the attendees.

They are friends of the artists, with this year being the third time Dave attended the event.

Cleo Mikkelson, of Moses Lake, said it was the first time she attended the show and she would return, especially if she knows an artist.

"It makes it more interesting, I think," Mikkelson said.