Student Art Contest 2021
Winning Artwork
Winning Artwork
High School Division: Place Winners
First Place
Emma Nielsen It Just Blooms Colored pencil 12th Grade, Age 18 Nielsen Home School Teacher: Roxanne Nielsen Artist Statement This raw and emotional portrait represents my struggle and pain of living with cystic acne, and my healing journey. My drawing needed to depict the pain as true to life as I know it to be. Drawn with colored pencil, much attention to detail was paid while creating this piece. One’s flaws or experiences don’t make them unworthy of knowing they are beautiful. |
Second Place
Reagan Steckbeck Reading Blue ink pen 12th Grade, Age 18 Cypress Woods High School Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Charlotte Stuart Artist Statement This artwork was fun for me because I was able to work from a different perspective and it included one of the things I love: books. The subject is my twin sister. We had a great time trying to get the correct foreshortening perspective; special sister time. The layering process and different values were also a fun challenge using only the blue pen. |
Third Place
Emma Marriner Consumed White charcoal 12th Grade, Age 18 Klein High School Klein ISD Teacher: Dolores Burgess Artist Statement This artwork shows the overwhelming feeling when dealing with depression and anxiety. The black water the figure is sinking into gives physical representation of what sinking into depression feels like; while the falling water droplets represent the feeling of anxiety where everything feels like it is falling apart around you. |
Honorable Mention
Ruth Hardy Passion in Death Oil paint 12th Grade, Age 18 Spring High School Spring ISD Teacher: Lizbeth Ramagnoli Artist Statement This piece illustrates the passion of an artist whether a musician, visual artist, or a performer. A true creative creates until the day they die and their art will always be a part of them. Art is what they will be remembered for and their creations will live past them and through multiples of generations. |
High School Division: Jurors' Selections
Jessica Cardenas
Lost in Reality Photography 10th Grade, Age 16 Cypress Springs High School Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Wauna Johnson Artist Statement This piece represents the state of mind felt during this lockdown period from Covid. It feels unreal but isn’t – the reality remains. The photo is of my little brother who likes to go outside and play with his friends but realizes he can’t do that as much. I used Photoshop to merge the photos I took of him and the wooded area. I like the way it came out. |
Katie Kim
Lucid Dreaming Watercolor, pens, markers 12th Grade, Age 18 Cypress Woods High School Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Charlotte Stuart Artist Statement My initial inspiration was loosely based upon the concept of “relationships and connections.” I was intrigued to incorporate several mediums into one organized and balanced piece. Enticed by the ideology of connecting areas by a thread, I wanted to assimilate this idea by connecting the flowing skirt pattern with the details of the line work in the upper torso. |
Justin Kostecki
All Wrapped Up Photography 11th Grade, Age 17 Cypress Christian School Private School Teacher: Beth Brubaker Artist Statement In the same way a snake tightly coils itself around a branch, people often experience anxiety by putting too much emphasis on things that, in the end, won’t matter. It’s important not to get wrapped up in the small things in life, but rather to focus on your long term goals. |
Lindey Morvan
English Teacher Acrylic paint on canvas 9th Grade, Age 14 Klein Oak High School Klein ISD Teacher: Susan Roberts Artist Statement When creating English Teacher, I learned how to paint realistically. Using my photo of my mom’s book shelf, I tried to paint the lines, colors, shadows, lettering and highlights. I also used a light source highlighting the top books while keeping the bottom books in the shadows. |
Grace Nielsen
A Voice Unlocked Colored pencil 11th Grade, Age 16 Nielsen Homeschool Teacher: Roxanne Nielsen Artist Statement I’ve always been reserved and observant, watching my words, listening to others, and keeping my feelings to myself. My piece depicts how I’ve come out of my shell over the past few years, due to personal experiences and hardships. I used colored pencil for this piece after attending an art workshop, where we learned different techniques for colored pencil portraits. |
Sydney Wyrick
Nighttime Views Watercolor, batik wax, Sharpie 12th Grade, Age 17 Cypress Woods High School, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Charlotte Stuart Artist Statement This piece was inspired by my mother. Due to her job, she travels a lot, but when I get to travel with her, we stop at Algiers Point. We walk along the sidewalk there and one night I photographed the nighttime view. This watercolor batik holds a special place in my heart. Just as the sky will always remain above, my mom, no matter the distance, will always be right there. |
Lynden Yough
Lexi
Scratchboard
11th Grade, Age 17
Cypress Christian School
Private School
Teacher: Beth Brubaker
Artist Statement
During this year, my family struggled with unpredictable changes which overwhelmed my mother the most. She became terribly depressed, so I decided to create a scratch art piece of Lexi, our cat, to cheer her up. Through each stroke, I learned to share God’s love through appreciating each detail of creation.
Lexi
Scratchboard
11th Grade, Age 17
Cypress Christian School
Private School
Teacher: Beth Brubaker
Artist Statement
During this year, my family struggled with unpredictable changes which overwhelmed my mother the most. She became terribly depressed, so I decided to create a scratch art piece of Lexi, our cat, to cheer her up. Through each stroke, I learned to share God’s love through appreciating each detail of creation.
Middle School Division: Place Winners
First Place
Ravine Cohen Unwelcomed Sight Pen and ink/ebony 8th Grade, Age 14 Hamilton Middle School Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Kimberly Lloyd Artist Statement This piece focuses on optical illusions and was inspired by nightmares in which one can’t close their eyes and is forced to see the scenery around them. It’s drawn in pen and pencil, while the figure is in colored pencil to show the contrast between her and the unsettling environment. |
Third Place
Sarah Chang Countless Clocks Watercolor 8th Grade, Age 13 Salem Lutheran School Private School Teacher: Karen Paluch Artist Statement In art class, we were asked to pick an object for our study of cubism. I chose a clock from home, and I made sure to include contrasting colors and shading. I really loved how the clock looks like it exploded all over the page, and how the metallic colors give bright accents. |
Honorable Mention
Abby Yeager A Mother’s Love Watercolor 8th Grade, Age 13 Extraordinary Education Home School Teacher: Linda Kistler Artist Statement I chose this piece because it shows how much parents care for their young. I decided to make it multicolored because it shows how crazy it can be to have a child and at the same time it shows that no matter what happens they will always love us. |
Middle School Division: Jurors' Selections
Kevin De La Roca
Still Life with Aloe Oil pastels 7th Grade, Age 14 Wunderlich Intermediate School Klein ISD Teacher: Enrique Guemez Artist Statement I like how plants are unpredictible on how they look and I also like clothes folds. |
Janell Gallegos
La Vieja Flor Mixed media 8th Grade, Age 13 Hamilton Middle School, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Teacher: Kimberly Lloyd Artist Statement This is one of my proudest pieces in my art journey. I wanted to incorporate my Mexican heritage in my artwork while doing a self portrait. I wanted to make sure I was doing something I was fairly familiar with (pencil) while trying something new, like colored pencil, which was a good challenge for me. I think it paid off in the end, giving me a piece I take pride in. |
Abigail Weaver
Crystalline Composition Graphite and colored pencil 8th Grade, Age 14 McCullough Junior High School Conroe ISD Teacher: Roberta Willeford Artist Statement I wanted this still life to be as realistic as possible, so I experimented with sudden value changes, leading lines, and contrast. I formed a visual pyramid composition using the goggles and perfume bottle. I think the unique shapes of the objects really add variety to the artwork unity. |
Zoe Zemencsik
Zoe’s Honey Colored pencil and watercolor 7th Grade, Age 13 Magnolia Junior High School, Magnolia ISD Teacher: Jennifer Roberson Artist Statement The inspiration for my artwork is Honey, my dog. I’m working on proportion by using the grid system. I took a perspective picture using my phone, and printed it out as a reference. I learned to work with the colorless blender for the first time. |
Elementary School Division: Place Winners
First Place
Iracely Durden Dali Duck Watercolor and colored pencils 5th Grade, Age 11 Reynolds Elementary School Spring ISD Teacher: Roberta Langan Artist Statement My name is Iracely Durden and I used a duck for my Dali art piece. I thought it was unique and related to Easter with pastel colors and I think it’s very nice for me. |
Second Place
Drew Swirczek Wild Wind Watercolor 5th Grade, Age 11 Bear Branch Intermediate School Magnolia ISD Teacher: Tara Ratliff Artist Statement When I think of Texas where I live I think of western horses. I learned to create the horse body by stippling which is making small dots together to make shadows and the shape of the horse. I learned to create the hair by making brush strokes. The biggest thing I learned was that by being patient and taking my time I can make an amazing piece of art. |
Third Place
Sofia Ruiz Trying My Best Mixed media 2nd Grade, Age 8 Powell Elementary School Conroe ISD Teacher: Timothy Garcia Artist Statement In art class I wanted to try best to draw the best me I could. I wanted the picture to come out really well. I used a mirror as reference. I used oil pastel and colored pencil in the picture along with chalk pastel in the background. I used many different colors and learned how to use color value and shape along with line value. |
Elementary School Division: Jurors' Selections
Lauren Bruns
Koi Fish Pond Digital 4th Grade, Age 10 Hassler Elementary School Klein ISD Teacher: Carolyn Mikel Artist Statement I used the Apple Pencil in Procreate. I drew the koi after learning about them. On a separate layer, I colored in areas so the black drawing would be on top. I duplicated it and arranged them. I used a darker blue water brush to complement the orange koi fish. |
Serina Fekih
A Turtle’s Tale Watercolor and acrylic 5th Grade, Age 11 Gloria Marshall Elementary School Spring ISD Teacher: Trish Ballast Artist Statement Art is a way I can escape from the world and a way I can express my feelings. My artwork makes me feel happy and free like the turtles in my piece. My turtles are on a journey in the ocean like I am on a journey in life. Using mixed media of watercolors for the ocean and acrylic paint to create interesting textures on the turtles brings me happiness and freedom. |
Abbie Fernandez
Water Dragon Batik Crayon and tempera paint 2nd Grade, Age 8 Benfer Elementary School Klein ISD Teacher: Rachel Fortner Artist Statement Inspired by the story The Water Princess this is a woman and her children walking to the dragon river to get water for their family. I colored with crayon, crumpled my paper and painted with black paint. |
Eunice Figueroa
New Beginnings Marker, tempera paint, colored pencils 4th Grade, Age 10 Beneke Elementary School Spring ISD Teacher: Nayeli Aguilar Artist Statement Art that describes the countryside and the beauty of Texas. New beginnings, growth, and blossoming nature. |