Local artist Jillian Herrigel’s “Picket Fence,” an oil painting on canvas, has been chosen as the winner of this year’s 10×10 Benefit Art Exhibit and Sale publicity contest.

The 10×10 event, to be held this year on Sept. 30, is a fundraiser to support the work of Arts Are Elementary, a local non-profit that inspires more than 1,000 potential student artists every year by providing artist residencies in every elementary school class in Brunswick. Herrigel’s piece will be used in all 10×10 publications, including event posters, postcards, programs, press releases and advertising. The work will be on sale with the two contest runners-up as a special silent auction at the event.

“I find the act of painting, drawing or creating . . . an intuitive process,” Herrigel said. “Often the completed work is far different from the original idea, as natural associations in the act of creation allow for unexpected concepts and surprising representations to emerge. If I had to describe my work in two words it is imaginative realism.”

Herrigel was born in Surrey England, grew up in Virginia and New Jersey, earned a degree in art history and a masters degree in fine art education and taught art for many years. She moved to Maine in 2006 and became a full time artist. More of Herrigel’s work can be viewed at Centre St. Arts in Bath, the East Village Gallery in West Point, Phippsburg, at jillianherrigel.com and on Facebook.

The first runner up is Paula Burleson’s splendid oil painting “Ship Shapes.” The second runner up is Patricia Norzow’s encaustic painting, “Summer Hay.”

This year’s 10×10 Benefit Art Exhibit & Sale will be held Sept. 30 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Curtis Memorial Library’s Morrell Meeting Room and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall, with 300 works of art representing 175 Maine artists on sale. All works of art will be available to view online beginning the week of Sept. 4 at 10x10brunswick.org. Public previews will take place Sept. 29 from 6-9 p.m. and Sept. 30 from noon to 3 p.m. at both venues. For more information on the 10×10 Art Exhibit and Sale visit 10x10brunswick.org.