“The Garden of Enlightenment” is an 11” x 14” acrylic and oil painting. Mr. Kokoszka states: “This painting captures the mid-day summer sun glistening over head as it fills one with the sense of peace and security in the religiously inspired Bellamy-Ferriday Garden. You can see the awesome power of a creator as you reflect on all he has made for us by observing all the things in this heavenly garden! With the peaceful setting of a historic house in the back round one can visit here and forgot the worries of the modern day and just relax and get a sense of what life use to be in the 18th century while reflecting on their own beliefs and values.”
Peter is a self-taught artist and associate member of Oil Painters of America. He is also a member of Wallingford Arts & Cultural Alliance in the town in which he grew up. His work has been published and displayed in many places such as Wallingford Magazine, Colored Pencil Magazine, Wallingford Art Gallery, Duchess Restaurant Cruise Night in Wallingford, Tindahan City Restaurant in Berlin Ct., Oil Painters of America, Florence Griswold Museum, Weir Farm Historical Park, Hospital For Special Care in New Britain Ct., The Gallery at Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center, U.S National Parks Services and Middlesex Community College. You may have seen him recently painting plein air at Hammonassett Beach in CT. He has inspired many others across the globe to become artists! You can see more of his work on his website at magnificentartstudio.com.
The CT Historic Gardens Poster Contest gives local and regional artists a chance to showcase their talents while advertising CT Historic Gardens Day, an important, statewide event. The group began the contest to encourage Connecticut artists to visit and capture these historically significant homes with beautiful gardens. They hope that these sites will provide inspiring subjects for their art.
Along with a cash prize, the winning artist receives widespread exposure – at each of the 16 Connecticut’s Historic Gardens throughout the year and at Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day, an event that attracts garden lovers from throughout the state and beyond. This year’s Historic Gardens Day takes place on Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 12-4 pm; visit cthistoricgardens.org for details on activities offered at each site.