Black Swamp Arts Festival Poster Wins Sunshine Artist’s Overall Best

Sunshine Artist magazine honored the Black Swamp Arts Festival’s 2021 poster design with Overall Best award. Local artist Amy Karlovec designed the poster. Sunshine Artist announced the award and other poster contest winners in its May 2022 issue. 

Sunshine Artist is a nationally recognized publication for fine art fairs, festivals and events. There were 58 entries in this year’s annual Show Poster Contest—almost double the number in the previous year’s competition after many 2020 events, including the 2020 Black Swamp Arts Festival, were canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karlovec has designed many Black Swamp Arts Festival posters. For the 2021 poster, Karlovec said, “I wanted to come up with a design that when seen, would make people feel alive, energized, and excited for the upcoming festival after a year hiatus.” The image incorporates the original alcohol ink artwork of her two daughters and mother-in-law. “From the dancing blades of grass to the bright yellow background and blue clouds, to the iconic graphics of the festival—this year’s poster was a family collaboration,” she said. Karlovec is a senior graphic designer at Bowling Green State University, since 2017.

In addition to the Sunshine Artist recognition, the poster was also honored earlier this year with a Bronze Addy award from the American Advertising Federation (AAF) for its design.

All work for the festival, including the poster design, is on a strictly volunteer basis. The festival would not be possible without the work of many dedicated volunteers in the area. Information about volunteering at the festival can be found at www.blackswampfest.org/support.