Angela True exhibited ‘Iris’ in the 2014 Energen Art Competition Show in Birmingham. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Angela True’s depiction of spring flowers on her lawn was accepted in the 2014 Energen Art Competition Show in Birmingham.

“The caliber of fine arts left me breathless! I am so inspired to paint more and more whenever I come back from these shows,” True said. “I am humbled to be chosen among them.”

The exhibit was staged at Energen Corporation headquarters. Energen received 461 submissions for the 191 available slots in the show.

True painted “Iris” “last spring in a rather bit of a frenzy, I must say! It measures 36 inches by 48 inches and was inspired by the irises growing in my yard. I saw them, felt the sun on my cheek and just got energized.”

Grabbing her largest canvas, True started to work … but never using a brush. “I used only the highest-graded, pigment-loaded paint I could get in a fluid form and rapidly applied the paint using sponges and my fingers,” she said.

To create flowers, she plopped “calculated drops of paint” and carefully moved the end of her fingertip through the colors.

True’s artwork had to conform to a wildlife, non-representational or landscape theme. “The first round of judging is the toughest round — where you receive acceptance or refusal,” she said.

“Tons of artists apply from all over the state. The work must be recent, within three years,” True said. After the 10-day exhibit, artists enjoyed a reception with gourmet foods, wines and meeting Energen officials.

True teaches private art lessons with her business, Pick My Brains Art. She plans to expand outside her home studio this year.

Her husband Jim True is a vice president at Cabinet in Madison. Their children are Jolene Mosley, Columbia, Md.; Dawn Caudill, Trenton, N.J.; and James R. True, Madison. They have seven granddaughters and one grandson. “Number nine is due in May,” Angela said.

Based in Birmingham, Energen is a growing production company for oil and gas exploration.

For more information, call 256-233-3690, email to atrue@angelatrue.com or visit Angelatrue.com and pickmybrainsart.blogspot.com.