When it comes to artistic talent, South Jersey has no shortage. That was more than clear from the response to our Top Artists contest, which attracted dozens of worthy entrants crafting intriguing pieces across a broad range of media. Here, meet five outstanding winners and find out what drives them to express their creativity.

Erin McGee Ferrell
Erin McGee Ferrell (pictured) lives in Moorestown, grew up in Kentucky, and studied art at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, as well as in Seattle, Vermont, Italy and West Africa. When it comes to her artwork, she finds herself drawn to bustling settings, like the Italian Market in Philadelphia. "I believe that the energy of the atmosphere affects my painting," she says. Her work is on display at Tortilla Press in Collingswood, and one of her largest works to date, a 7-by-24-foot mural, will be installed this month at the new AtlantiCare hospital in Hammonton.
Pat's/Geno's on Ninth, Oil on Canvas
"This is painted on the streets of the Italian Market, interacting with the community while I depict the community. I'm not an artist creating in the studio, isolated."