I LOVE Jigsaw Puzzles. During the colder months I usually always have one out. And I can usually average a 1,000 piece puzzle every few days, depending on how cold it is and what my schedule looks like.

It all started when I was really young. I grew up in an OLD Antebellum home that was built in the 1800′s. That means…no air, no heat, no insulation, icicles hanging off you the moment you step out of the shower. It was a COLD house in the winter and there was no way you could heat it all. So, while we slept in the bedrooms (with 10 blankets on your bed) we lived in one or two rooms while we were awake. And my Mom would always have a puzzle going to provide some entertainment. Now, all of us love puzzles and we all still look forward to getting one each Christmas.

Most puzzles do not provide much of a challenge for me. But last year I came across some puzzles by Artist Alex Beard, known for demystifying art and engaging people in the creative experience. His work is amazing and I immediately fell in love with Impossible Puzzles. Just recently Alex announced the 2^nd Annual “Alex Beard Impossible Puzzles Contest.” This contest, designed to help break down the barriers between the artist and his audience, encourages people to think outside the box and challenge one’s creativity.

Most puzzles have interlocking pieces that fit together, and some have evolved to 3D versions and computer adaptations, but the end goal remains the same: to recreate the picture on the front of the box.  Alex Beard’s line of Impossible Puzzles combats the theory that a puzzle can only result in one picture.  In Beard’s line of work, the goal is creativity, curiosity and novelty.  With his line of Impossible Puzzles, Beard proves that by looking at the jigsaw puzzle with a new perspective, anything is possible.

“I am thrilled to be launching the 2^nd Annual Impossible Puzzles Contest in partnership with Borders,” says Beard, owner of the Alex Beard Studio. “What a fantastic way to break down the barriers between ‘the artist’ and ‘the people,’ and what a fantastic partner I have in Borders to make it happen!”

“We’ve recently added a large assortment of adult games and puzzles here at Borders and the ‘Impossible Puzzles Contest’ is a great way to engage our customers around our new offerings,” said Michele Cloutier, Chief Merchandising Officer for Borders, Inc.  “We can’t wait for our customers to show their creativity by designing their puzzle for a chance to win some great prizes.”

The Alex Beard Impossible Puzzles contest encourages people to create their own puzzle art based on original works by Beard. In other words, the final result should not mirror the picture on the box cover!  Each puzzle piece can be rearranged into a new composition, a new outline, a new image- a work of art of the puzzler’s very own. In the Impossible Puzzles collection, some shapes have common outlines, so there is more than one choice for what can fit.  The pieces do not snap into each other, but settle beside one another instead, making the puzzle exponentially more challenging.  While there is actually only one correct piece that combines with its neighbors to assemble the puzzle as intended, the pieces can be combined in infinite ways to create new puzzles and new shapes.

For example, the giraffe creation on the right was made from the pieces of the Abstract puzzle on the left!

It’s easy to enter! Go to your local Borders book store and find the Alex Beard Impossible Puzzles™ display. Then, create your puzzle art based on Beard’s brand new “Red Peacock” puzzle right there at Borders OR purchase a “Red Peacock” puzzle and create your masterpiece at home or in another creative environment.  Wherever you create your masterpiece, don’t forget a camera so you can take a picture of your design! Once you’ve finished creating your own Impossible Puzzle-inspired work of art, go to www.alexbeardimpossiblepuzzles.com, fill out the submission form and upload your photo. All entrants must review and agree to the photo upload terms on the contest site and all entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on March 7, 2011. For official rules and a full list of Alex Bead Studio products, go to www.alexbeardimpossiblepuzzles.com.

One “Alex Beard Impossible Puzzles™ Contest” Grand Prize Winner will receive a new, original Alex Beard painting inspired by the winning entry. 25 Runners-Up will each receive a signed copy of an Alex Beard Impossible Puzzle. Prize winners will be selected from all eligible entries received during the Contest Period based on creativity and adherence to theme by Alex Beard.

“Art is a medium accessible to everyone,” says Beard.  “I try to break down the artistic process by engaging with my audience and I always encourage questions and feedback.  My goal in creating the Impossible Puzzles was to make art available to people from all walks of life in a different way, and hopefully open up a new world of creative thinking for them.”

“I was not compensated in any way for this post. I didn’t receive a puzzle. I just wanted to tell you about a fun contest that will make you think outside of the box because thinking inside the box can be lonely…and boring…and stiffling…and well, it isn’t in my nature to think inside the box. Alex Beard really has no clue who I am even though I know who he is. Ohhh, that sounds kinda like I am a stalker doesn’t it? I am really not a stalker. Or at least I don’t think I am. Anyway, all that to say that I wasn’t paid for this post but I was given some of the information and I wanted to share it!”