A black-and-white portrait of 91原创 Township Councillor Bob Long made with India ink won the B.C.-wide portrait and live painting competition hosted by the at the Aldergrove Kinsmen Centre on Sunday, Feb. 27.

It was the work of Burnaby鈥檚 , one of nine artists who created portraits of three sitters 鈥� Long, local musician Darryl Klassen, of J.D. Miner, and 91原创 City Councillor Rosemary Wallace 鈥� who stayed in their seats for four hours.

Recilla described Long as a 鈥�91原创enal鈥� subject.

鈥淚 know it can be uncomfortable to have to sit still for as long as possible, let alone have different sets of eyes constantly looking up and down at him, but he did a great job and was very patient with us artists,鈥� Recilla told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Recilla said it was his first time taking part in an art competition.

鈥淚 was hesitant to join, but I鈥檓 glad I did, and grateful to be selected with the other eight artists who are masters at their craft. They are all very talented so I was stunned when I heard my name as the winner.鈥�

Recilla said he鈥檚 been drawing since he was a child, 鈥渁nd even after I took a break from art to work full time, I鈥檝e always known I wanted to keep making art. I can鈥檛 pinpoint what exactly inspired me to become an artist, but I鈥檝e always had a drive to keep honing my skills.鈥�

For winning first, Recilla took home $100 cash, a $100 Opus Art Supplies gift card, and $25 Downtown 91原创 Business Association bucks.

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Opus Art Supplies provided the cards as a sponsor, so did the Downtown 91原创 Business Association, and Kroma Artist鈥檚 Acrylic, who supplied the paints. Opus provided the other mediums.

Arts Council executive director Claire Sarfeld said each of the models had the option of taking home 鈥渙ne painting of their choice.鈥�

The three artists whose work was selected by their sitters will have a group exhibition with the arts council next year; Recilla, Lalita Hamill, and Martin Murphy.

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The council鈥檚 2022 Portrait Artist of the Year Competition was inspired by the television show, Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, which brings together the country鈥檚 professional and amateur artists in a battle of the brushes to decide the best artist.

Alongside the live painting event on Sunday, spectators were be able to view other portrait artists in the exhibition hall.

More images from the event can be viewed online at the .