Two Newton artists have placed in the Iowa State Fair’s fine arts contest, with one earning first place in the “Mixed Media” category.

Chris Noel’s collage “Thinking of You” (above) — which depicts a middle-aged woman with drifting thoughts leaning on an open windowsill — took home the first place prize in its category and first runner up in Best In Show. Noel was awarded $300 by anonymous donors calling themselves a “Group of Four Art Lovers.”

Newton artist Judd Hoskins also took home two awards, placing third in the drawing category with an ambiguous kiss on the cheek in shadows titled “Glimpse” (right) and a Merit Award for “Waiting” (below), a black and white drawing seen through a lens depicting a melancholy young woman lying on a bed with a record player spinning on her night stand. Hoskins was awarded two $100 prizes, one given by the Iowa State Fair Board of Directors.