Camarillo artist state fair's top winner

Award-winning watercolor artist Christine Leong of Camarillo received an Award of Excellence for her watercolor painting "Melody of Lotus" at the 2007 California State Fair.

Leong was among 1,833 entries to compete for top awards and the only artist from Ventura County to win an award.

Leong, a native of Hong Kong, immigrated to the Camarillo area in 2002. Her paintings have been juried in shows and art walks in Ventura County. She has won many awards, including first place in the 2004 Ventura County Fair Professional Watercolor Division.

Leong conducts a Chinese watercolor class every Friday at the Camarillo Art Center, 3150 Ponderosa Drive, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These classes are ongoing.

For information, call (805) 445-9053 or (805) 445-7061. She also has a studio at Studio Channel Islands, and she is president of the Camarillo Art Center.