SALISBURY — Art is a personal thing, for both the creator and the admirer, and it can make for interesting competitions. But win or not, expositions give the public an opportunity to see for themselves what they love.

This year, the Carolina Artists Guild held its 34th annual expo and sale at the Salisbury Civic Center and the number of attendees showed how much artwork resonates with individuals.

The event ran from Sept. 17-19, with a Meet the Artists reception Thursday night, Sept. 19. At that time, winners in each category along with Best in Show were announced.

Mary Ellen Bennett, organization president, said she thought it “was the best show we’ve had, and the addition of the gift shop was great.” The shop was a place for artists who had smaller works to offer or that they didn’t wish to enter into competition to sell pieces. There were pottery, jewelry, small framed pieces and cards among other gift items. This was the first year the group had an actual shop.

Pieces of art on display were for sale, and red stickers indicating sold went up  more and more throughout the evening Thursday.

Bennett, who has been in the club for 10 years, said she sees the group as active, involved in the community, connected and happy.

“But it’s more than that for me,” she said. “I lost my son five years ago to an allergic reaction, and this group helped me get through it.” And it is her hope that it can help others in similar ways, by connecting to each other and the community at large. The group does not get a lot of recognition from the government and she is hoping that will change.

“We don’t have the big stuff, we’re not flashy, I mean our membership is $35 a year, but we are always doing something, always saying yes when we are asked to help.”

Karen Morgan, who won best in show with her piece “Lazy Lion,” said she has been in the guild “forever,” and that she loves the friendship among the artists. When she was told she’d taken the top award, “I almost fell down in tears,” she said. It was not expected, and the painting was one she actually did twice, because she wasn’t happy with it the first time. The painting depicts a lion lying on the ground, head back, gazing up at the viewer, and the fur is so realistic that many paused and reached out to touch it. Morgan does mostly animals, though she did have a painting of grapes on the vine this year, and said it is her passion. While she does not do commissions, she does paint pets of friends. “I just love painting animals — I love animals,” she said, laughing.

Joyce Metters, who took first place in oil, said she just joined the guild “about three weeks ago. I haven’t been painting as much recently and just am getting back to it,” so she, too, was surprised by the first place win.

Other winners in categories include:

Oil:

1. Joyce Metters
2. Marshal Stokes
3. Deb Fredette

Acrylic:

1. Connie Peninger
2. Gale Rathbun
3. Donna VanValkenburg

Watercolor:

1. Karen Morgan
2. Connie Eads
3. Donna VanValkenburg

Pastels:

1. Gale Rathbun
2. Carolyn Blackmon
3. Janet Isenhour

Drawing:

1. Carolyn Blackman
2. Connie Eads
3. Gale Rathbun

Mixed Media:

1. Yvonne Alligood
2. Janet Isenhour
3. Catherine Soderberg

Photography and Digital Design:

1. Cherathee Hager
2. Andy Mooney
3. Connie Eads

Sculpture and 3D:

1. Joyce Darling
2. Joyce Darling
3. Mary Ellen Bennett