Battle of the Brushes: Wildcard, Nelson Cheng is Crowned Winner in First-Ever Landscape Artist of the Year Canada on Makeful TV

Winning Artwork on View at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection Beginning March 9

(Toronto, ON - March 8, 2020) - After four stunning locations, 18 professional and amateur artists and 50 wildcard walk-ons, Toronto-based Nelson Cheng has won Makeful TV’s original series Landscape Artist of the Year Canada, taking home $10,000 CAD in cash, crowned Landscape Artist of the Year Canada and will have his winning painting displayed at the prestigious McMichael Canadian Art Collection. In the final episode of this four-part series, filmed at Lake Rosseau, a famous Canadian landmark known for the Group of Seven, Nelson beat out finalists Elzbieta Krawecka, Andrew Cheddie Sookrah, Denise Antaya, Tosh Jeffrey, Deborah Danelley and Mackenzie Brown.Landscape Artist of the Year Canada premiered Sunday, February 16 exclusively on Makeful TV during the channel’s eight-week free preview event running from Feb. 3 to April 5 across Canada.

Hundreds of artists applied across the country and 18 were chosen to portray some of Canada’s most iconic landscapes, responding with extraordinary works of art. Joining them, in each round, flocks of walk on artists at every level of experience were invited to compete as wildcards and each week the judges picked just one to go through to the next round. In the finale, Nelson Cheng was chosen as the standout wildcard to participate in the final challenge alongside the six professional and amateur finalists.

“I thought it was a big win just showing up as a wildcard to paint,” said Nelson Cheng, Winner, Landscape Artist of the Year Canada. “I felt good about it and now to win, I’m completely speechless. This win is life changing. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful experience and humbled to have been chosen to paint alongside such a talented group of artists. I’m hoping with this achievement I can propel my art career to the next level.”

“Nelson’s work consolidated quality drawing and painting skills, a great colour sense and his freedom of expression was lyrical,” said Joanne Tod, Judge, Landscape Artist of the Year Canada. 

“Nelson managed to make me like colours that I don’t like,” said Marc Mayer, Judge, Landscape Artist of the Year Canada. “You’ve got to win some kind of prize for that.” 

Nelson Cheng is a self-taught professional artist with a Bachelor of Honours from York University/Sheridan Institute and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Toronto. Influenced by a design background, his artistic approach relies heavily on patterns, abstractions, shapes, forms, perspectives and geometry. Nelson’s work explores ideas and narratives from lived experiences and are often interpreted through landscape and urban subject matter of his surroundings.

Nelson’s winning artwork will be available for public viewing at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection from March 9 - April 19 in the Founders’ Lounge, one of the most storied locations in the heart of the McMichaels’ former home. His work will be displayed on an easel belonging to Tom Thomson and was subsequently used by A. Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven alongside a framed vinyl display explaining the work’s presence to the public. 

VIEWING TIMES
Tonight’s episode of Landscape Artist of the Year Canada encores Tuesday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Makeful and the entire series will repeat in a marathon on Sunday, March 15 starting at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on Makeful. Landscape Artist of the Year Canada will also air Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, beginning March 12 on Cottage Life TV.
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Landscape Artist of the Year Canada is produced by marblemedia, in association with Blue Ant Media and CBC. Based on the UK format, it is distributed by Banijay Rights, and was originally produced by Storyvault Films. Carly Spencer is the Series Producer with Matt Hornburng and Mark Bishop serving as Executive Producers. Graeme Lynch is the Director and Carly Spencer is the Story Editor. Overseeing the series for Makeful TV is Sam Linton, Head of Original Content for Blue Ant Media. Following the world premiere on Makeful TV, CBC will air the series later this year. 

Engage with Landscape Artist of the Year Canada at: @BlueAntMedia@BeMakeful @marblemedia #LAOTYC

Makeful is a Blue Ant Media lifestyle specialty channel celebrating the creativity that exists within us all. Makeful’s programming combines food, design, style and DIY series, featuring passionate personalities who share their ideas and inspire audiences to bring imagination into every aspect of their lives. Makeful also unites the creative at heart with fresh and contemporary content through its digital and social platforms. BeMakeful.com

About marblemedia
marblemedia is an independent, leading global entertainment company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It develops, produces, and distributes compelling primetime scripted, unscripted, kids and family content both for the domestic market and for a wide range of high-profile platforms and broadcasters around the world. Learn more at marblemedia.com

About the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the foremost venue in the country showcasing the Group of Seven and their contemporaries. In addition to touring exhibitions, its permanent collection consists of over 6,500 artworks by Canadian artists, including paintings by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists. The gallery is located on 100 acres of northern landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information, please visit, please visit mcmichael.com.