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2022 Student Art Contest 

​High School Division: Place Winners
​Juror Commentary By Michael McGinley

Picture
First Place

Thanh Duong
The Sit-down
Oil Paint


10th Grade, Age 16
Cypress Woods High School
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Quindeel Butt

Artist Statement

This is a portrait-from-life I did over the course of a little over a week for someone staying over at my house. This was an attempt to get as accurate to life as possible using all the proportional measurement techniques I can while practicing live, in-person painting.​

Juror Commentary
Happy spontaneity as if this were a photograph but in a medium demanding patience and careful application. We respond with as much joy as the sitter shares with us. How direct her gaze is and how well framed she is on a couch that comfortably leads us into her space. Her black hair and relaxed arms encompass her happy personality. The pastel blue, yellow, green and pink surround and create a soft dreamlike environment. Expert brushwork unifies all the different textures of cloth and skin. And the highlights and shadows modeling the subject’s countenance arrest us. We must stop and smile back.


​

Picture
Second Place

Sophia Phillip
Coco
​Graphite


9th Grade, Age 14
Magnolia High School
Magnolia ISD
Teacher: Alexandra Chavez

Artist Statement
My inspiration for this piece was to celebrate the life of our first cat named Coco. Coco meant a lot to me and was my best friend for many years and would always comfort me in my times of need.

Juror Commentary
Coco’s attention and expression are exactly how our pets look when we look at them, and how they look when they look back at us. The downward perspective frames Coco’s face which dominates the image’s space. We delight in the graphite application rendering exquisite texture and details: the soft fur, glistening eyes, wispy whiskers, and the attentive ears just slightly cropped at the edges. Textures and details carry to the surrounding background, in softer focus. Balanced and contrasting values shape Coco’s presence. What will Coco do next, certainly not break our gaze we hope. ​


Picture
3rd Place

Nguyen Phan
Visceral Privacy
Digital Art


11th Grade, Age 16
Klein Cain High School
Klein ISD
Teacher: Joel Cook

Artist Statement
It's what in my heart and my consciousness fuse into forms. I am presented as a statue, a backbone in flesh that's keeping this place save and secure. It's inspired by some traditional east Asia representative objects. I've learned more in depth on how to harmonize colors, composition, and creating values.

Juror Commentary
A classic self-portrait with immediate presence and an equal measure of mystery. The direct view engages us, inviting us into a framework of senses: music, scents, flight, and diaphanous textures. Muted reds, greens, browns, and blues quietly surround and shelter the sitter. The dark gray clothing balances with the black hair and frames the face, exceptionally modeled through highlight and shadow. The sitter’s expression intrigues, asking us to pause a moment, to self-reflect.

Picture
Honorable Mention

Bridgeth Perez Sanchez
Whimsical Dreamscape
Colored Pencil


12th Grade, Age 18
Cypress Springs High School
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD


Artist Statement
My style of art is influenced by the fantasy genre of surrealism. I was inspired by my little cousin who loves to share his dreams. I wanted to create a piece that draws the viewer into the spatial perspective or dreamworld. I love working with bright colors using colored pencils and pastels. This piece has strengthened my skill sets with composition and chiaroscuro. 

Juror Commentary
A joyful, whimsical jog through a fantastical landscape where the mushrooms grow as large as the young boy. We just glance his happy expression while a wind tosses his hair about. Bright sunlight dazzles his deep blue coat where the rumples and stitching shout out for attention. How much greener can the meadow get, how much bluer the sky? See what colored pencil can achieve. We lean into his dream space and want to run besides and hear him call to friends through the clear air.


High School Division: Juried Selections

Picture
Pamela Fajardo
Kicks
Dark Room Photography

9th Grade, Age 14
Cypress Creek High School
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Charlie Rogers

Artist Statement:
My photo is my solution to a collage problem. I chose to take the photo of my shoes because I thought the perspective of the low angle would be interesting, and chose this photo to collage together due to the simple shape lending itself to the repetition.
Picture
Kelly Lopez
For My Beloved Father
Acrylic

12th Grade, Age 18
​Andy Delaney High School
Spring ISD
Teacher: Tiffany Sims


This piece is dedicated to my father and is a memoir of my childhood. When I was a child, my dad would play "tea party" with me and my stuffed animals. That memory is very precious to me and I hold it dearly.
Picture
Mackenzie Bayless
First Impressions
Colored Pencil

12th Grade, Age 17
Magnolia West High School
Magnolia ISD
Teacher: Destiny Ortiz
​
I’ve created a self portrait highlighted with warm colors against dull darker colors in specific areas of the face. The traits we’re naturally drawn to, create our first impressions of someone and this is the initial process of our perception.
Picture
Saami Baig
Shave of Shame
Photography

10th Grade, Age 16
The John Cooper School
Tomball
Teacher: Jennifer Schiebel

This past summer my cat started to get hairballs. My sister decided to shave her to stop periodic hairball episodes from happening. The shaved look brings out the irritated expression, and the stairwell bars accentuate the feeling of being a domesticated animal with no control over your fur.
Picture
Hannah Dang
Please Dispose After Use
Watercolor

11th Grade, Age 16
Cypress Woods High School
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Quindeel Butt

Artist Statement:
My statement is to the brutal reality of ocean pollution. Society’s ignorance of production and consumerism cycles back to who we never thank enough for our resources: Mother Earth. My piece ties into this by creating an ironic depiction of a person consuming turtles trapped in a plastic water bottle.
Picture
Seth Harris
River Road
Acrylic

11th Grade, Age 17
Grand Oaks High School
Conroe ISD
Teacher: Dandrige Reed

The purpose of my artwork is to show that you should take in the beauty of the world around you at the moment. This painting is also a reflection of my personality through the image that is captured, a calm relaxing street just after a dark storm.
Picture
Bria Lloyd
Dog Days
Photography

10th Grade, Age 15
Cypress Christian School
Teacher: Beth Brubaker

I had the idea for this photo for awhile. It was based on a photo I took years ago of the dog and my brother in sunglasses together. I saw her napping on the carpet and seized my opportunity.
Picture
Grace Nielsen
Nostalgia
Colored Pencil

12th Grade, Age 17
Nielsen Homeschool
Teacher: Roxanne Nielsen
​ 
This art piece of mine is done with colored pencil. While I was looking through old family photos, I came across a picture of my dad and brother. I thought it captured a very heartfelt, joyful moment and that it would be perfect to draw. I used vibrant colors, high contrast, and a burnishing technique.

Middle School Division: Place Winners
Juror Commentary By Mel Basham

Picture
1st Place

Nhi Vo

Depiction of Nhi Vo
Acrylic


8th Grade, Age 14
Schindewolf Intermediate
Klein ISD
Teacher: Samantha Lacey

Artist Statement
A self portrait with a combination of vivid and dark colors. The painting was a letter of my emotions, done through the bold colors and finger painting.

Juror Commentary
This acrylic portrait painting uses a variety of painterly techniques and color to create an expressive composition. The student artist uses complementary colors to frame the portrait and emphasize the well-executed details of the face. The strong diagonal draws the viewer into this balanced painting to appreciate all areas of the painting. Excellent use of media to communicate emotion in this painterly portrait.


Picture
2nd Place

Areli Cruz
Vacation in Italy
Colored Pencil

​
8th Grade, Age 13
Klein Intermediate
Klein ISD
Teacher: Tu-Anh Pham


Artist Statement
This drawing is based off of a vacation I took in Venice, Italy. The picture was taken while my family and I were lost during vacation. I used found objects to create this still life. I chose a lot of greenery to add to my still life, because there was not enough green in the photo. 

Juror Commentary
What a creative, wonderful view of Venice. The framing elements and architectural details are well done and engaging allowing the viewer to enter the composition to be part of the experience. The vacation memories are captured and shared. This colored pencil composition clearly tells a story and shares a memory that can be enjoyed by all.
​

Picture
3rd Place

Cailea Chalton
Blue Moon
Scratchboard

8th Grade, Age 13
Cypress Christian School
Teacher: Beth Brubaker

Artist Statement
I titled this piece of art “Blue Moon” because my cat’s name is Blue and he is always sleeping or just laying around so I put moon since that is when most sleep.

Juror Commentary
What a spectacular tribute to Blue the Cat. The use of scratchboard techniques successfully shows attention to details in all areas of this work – fur textures, collar, whiskers, nose, expressive eyes and the calm pose of the animal. It is as if Blue is sitting right there demanding attention. This composition does communicate Blue’s personality and the artist’s appreciation of their pet.

Picture
Honorable Mention

Mu Paw
Little Flower Shop
Mixed Media


8th Grade, Age 14
Hamilton Middle School
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Kim Lloyd

Artist Statement

I wanted to reflect or to somehow show how I saw the world. I liked looking at simple sceneries and people and wonder what would it be like to see in their point of view. It's nice just to stop and look at what's in front of you. 

​Juror Commentary

Little Flower Shop captures a moment in time and invites you in to enjoy all the wonderful flowers and quiet moments. The mixed media composition is framed and balanced with all the flower shop details. The variety of textures and colors are pleasing. The viewer can imagine walking into the shop, smelling the flowers and creating colorful flower arrangements.


Middle School Division: Juried Selections

Picture
Santiago Fernandez Villarreal
The Splatter
Photography

8th Grade, Age 14
The John Cooper School
Tomball
Teacher: Jennifer Schiebel

Artist Statement
When I think of art I think of craziness and colors, with movements everywhere. In this photo I was able to capture the movement of colored water in an unreal way that is surprising and fills the view. It is pretty in its chaos.
Picture
Iris Shen
Helping Hands
Graphite

8th Grade, Age 13
McCullough Jr High School
Conroe ISD
Teacher: Roberta Willeford

Artist Statement
My artwork uses white Prisma color, black Prisma color, and pencil to create a monochromatic waterfall landscape. The insertion of human hands aim to represent humanity's need to protect the nature and environment surrounding us. Additionally, the two hands reaching out to each other symbolize the cooperation needed to accomplish this.
Picture
Zoe Wesley
Chaotic Collage
Pen and Ink

8th Grade, Age 13
Irons Jr. High
Conroe ISD
Teacher: Mandy Johnston

Artist Statement
This art piece is my expression of the many expressions and emotions I see and feel on a daily basis. It is in the form of a collage to combine all of the expressions into one piece.
Picture
Alondra Garcia Romero
Aren't I Beautiful
Acrylic

8th Grade, Age 14
York Jr High School
Conroe ISD
Teacher: Kaitlin Williamson

Artist Statement
The concept was showing how people might hate something just by looking at but it's actually looking at it on the bright side. I took a picture of my brother's snake. People said that it is a scary animal but I don't see it that way.

Elementary Division: Place Winners
Juror Commentary By Evelyn Bouley

Picture
1st Place

Diego Torres

The Two Amigos
Mixed Media

4th Grade, Age 10
Schultz Elementary School
Klein ISD
Teacher: Catalina Baez

Artist Statement
I was inspired to use parrots as my subject because parrots are nice and loyal creatures. They have bright colorful feathers. I first drew the parrots, then I mod podge some previously bled out tissues. The next day, I painted around the tissues. I learned a different way to make great art.

Juror Commentary
Rich, vibrant colors delight the eye in this mixed media artwork of a pair of parrots. This young artist skillfully fills the pleasing composition with several interesting areas of pattern and repetition. The use of layered tissue paper and painterly brushwork combine to create a strikingly beautiful masterpiece.

Picture
2nd Place

Isabella Rutland
Wishing Star
Colored Pencil

5th Grade, Age 11
Hassler Elementary School
Klein ISD
Teacher: Carolyn Mikel

Artist Statement

I love horses and take horseback riding lessons weekly. I wanted to draw a very detailed horse because that’s how they look in real life. I drew the pattern on the horse and then I focused on the eye to look real. I also wanted to show each strand of hair in the forelock.

Juror Commentary
This moody and expressive drawing immediately captivates the viewer. With sensitive textures, the artist creates a superb rendering of the horse’s hair and mane. The pleasing combination of patterns found on the horse and on the sky make this work of art an award winner.

Picture
3rd Place

Sophia Evens
Stuck in a Painting
Mixed Media


5th Grade, Age 11
French Elementary
Klein ISD
Teacher: Emily Bledsoe

Artist Statement
I love to make art and I love that you can be really creative with it. We learned how to create shadows and I think they really make my art pop as if the objects are actually Stuck in a Painting.

Juror Commentary
This mixed media piece reveals an amazing understanding of the art technique called Trompe L’oeil. Trompe L’oeil seeks to trick the eye and make objects on a flat surface appear to be three dimensional. This is what the young artist achieved- the objects seem to have mass and form because they cast a shadow, and the brushes appear to splatter their paint upon the paper in front of them. The clever title, “Stuck in a Painting”, describes it well because the objects trick the eye and look dimensional.

Picture
4th Place

Le Tran
Dog on a Beach
Colored Pencil


5th Grade, Age 12
Danish Elementary 
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Teacher: Sophia Seltz

Artist Statement
The reason I decided to draw this dog is because it's one of my stuffed animals that meant a lot to me. At first, I drew the dog but I added the beach background so it looked more friendly and nice. I used light colors to color the picture. It turned out really successfully and I am really happy with my picture.

Juror Commentary
​
The drawing of this happy dog is well done- from the positioning of the legs and paws to the sweet face with it’s tongue hanging out. The composition leads the eye as the dog enters the picture plane from the left and proceeds to give chase to the ball on the right. Then the visual movement continues up to the palm tree and back again into the picture with the waves of the ocean in the background. One can almost sense the fond feelings the artist must have for the stuffed animal that inspired this joyful scene.

Elementary Division: Juried Selections

Picture
Alyson Resendiz Castillo
Chaos
Watercolor

5th Grade, Age 10
Lewis Elementary
Spring ISD
​Teacher: Kimberly Sukala

Artist Statement
I like my artwork, it looks creative. It doesn't look like artwork I have seen before, but it is still beautiful. I used a combination of sharpie and watercolor for the art. I was inspired by the artwork of Jean Michel Basquiat. Even though it is not perfect, it is still creative art.
Picture
Riley Moore
The River of Tears and Love
Oil Pastels and Watercolor

4th Grade, Age 9
The John Cooper School
Teacher: Amy Dietrich

Artist Statement
My artwork was inspired by Monet’s painting of water lilies at the Japanese bridge. I painted the sun shining brightly down on the bridge because Monet’s picture makes me feel bright and cheerful. I made the willow tree leaves waving in the wind by drawing the branches on the tree with oil pastels and overlaying it with watercolors. 
​
Picture
Dana Frias
Galaxy Shade
Watercolor

5th Grade, Age 11
Carolee Booker Elementary
Spring ISD
​Teacher: Maria Mathews

Artist Statement
I made birch trees in the winter and focused on showing a light source. I used watercolor, salt, tape, and watercolor pencils. I learned about the principle of art variety and the element of art value. I liked making these trees in the forest because it looks peaceful and quiet like me.
Picture
Shiva Bansal
Gold and Silver Explosion
Printmaking

4th Grade, Age 9
The John Cooper School
​Teacher: Amy Dietrich

Artist Statement
Gold and silver numbers explode in contrast to the black background. For me, this expresses the power of numbers. This was my first experience with printmaking, and I really liked using the ink and rollers. I got the turquoise area because I made multiple prints from the same numbers, and it was from my one before. ​

Picture
2022 Student Art Contest Winning Pieces
2022 Student Art Contest
Artwork by local students grades 1-12

Marilyn M. Hillery Gallery
April 1 - April 30, 2022

​
The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to present the annual Student Art Contest winners who were recognized for their outstanding artistic achievements. The 2022 Student Art Contest accepted entries from 1st to 12th grade students in public, private, and home schools in the Northwest Houston area.  

The contest entries were first adjudicated by the individual school districts and those finalists were submitted to the Pearl. Jurors then judged all entries according to four criteria: technique, personal expression, organization, and integration. This was a blind adjudication meaning no information about the artist was known to the panel of jurors. The jurors selected first, second, third place, and an honorable mention out of 180 entries for each division and a selection of other pieces to be included in the online Juried Exhibition that can be found here.

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Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts
6815 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
Phone: 281.376.6322

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The Cypress Creek Fine Art Association (d.b.a. the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. 
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