Thomas County Central High School young artists proved their “Superior” talents with their standout showing in a recent competition.
TCCHS earned the “Superior School Art Award” for the third year in a row at the 26th annual Georgia National Fair “Youth Art Competition and Exhibition” in Perry. Students scored the most first place blue ribbons (14) along with four Best-In-Categories. The school received a plaque and $400 was awarded to its art program.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our Yellow Jacket artists and the many excellent artworks created this year,” TCCHS art teacher Jocelyn Rivard said. “Earning ribbons is always a wonderful surprise for each student, as it validates their level of craftsmanship, especially when compared to the many talented youths across our state.”
The show featured more than 20 high schools competing. The exhibition limits schools to 50 entries, and no more than eight per student.
“It was very difficult to select which pieces to enter, as we had three art shows running concurrently and many creative student artworks to select from,” Rivard said. “It requires some strategy to assess which pieces the judges might think are the most creative and technically strong for shows such as this.”
Earning five ribbons, Maria Davis, 16, grabbed two Best-In-Categories and two first places with 2-D Other and 3-D Other artworks. The 2-D Other piece was “Still Life with Yellow Watering Can” created in batik technique with acrylic and an ink wash.
“Winning Best In Category is an honor,” Davis said. “It makes me feel that people appreciate my artwork.”
Her “Island Girl” was a Mayan-inspired portrait pot, created with coils, slabs, and molded clay in 3-D Other category. It was glazed in the related colors of orange, yellow and green.
Davis also earned second place in Clay for “Volkswagen Bug,” a container with removable roof glazed in 1960s sky blue. This is Davis’s favorite piece entered in the competition.
“This is my favorite because my first car was a ’74 Volkswagen Beetle,” she explained. “The piece has a removable lid with a purple interior. I added details like headlights, VW insignia, hubcaps, tail lights and door handles. It was a struggle because it was broken repeatedly during construction and had to be repaired.”
Sophie Anderson, 17, also earned five ribbons, including Best-In-Category and first place for her Mixed Media entry, “Zebra Butterflies.” The large piece features two children blowing bubbles filled with butterflies, created from watercolor and ink.
“I first came up with the idea when watching my cousin playing with bubbles and blowing them in the face of other kids,” Anderson said of the piece’s genesis. “I decided to sketch several different portraits of young boys and girls blowing bubbles. I then traced the two best onto a large sheet of paper that was covered with a multicolored wash. Then I went over everything with a pen and added shading with more watercolor. After that I painted the bubbles in with glitter paint. Lastly, I drew zebras into the bubbles.”
Her other wins include a first place in the Pen and Ink category for “Girl with Birds”; second place for Painting on Paper with “Jellyfish Girl”; and, an honorable mention for Other 2-D Not Listed, a collage entitled “Girl Surrounded by Red Flowers and Butterflies.”
Anderson said the recognitions her artworks have received are “very reassuring” and drive her “to continue creating art.”
“I hope to work in a field where I can utilize my artistic skills,” she said.
Kiana Roman, 16, earned three ribbons, including first place for “Woven Jugs of Flowers,” a tagboard, paper, tempera, crayon, and watercolor piece that was woven together.
“I was surprised that I won the first place ribbon,” Roman said. “While painting and coloring this piece, I faced many obstacles so I felt like my hard work had paid off when I won.”
Her “Girl in a Window” won second for Mixed Media category and “Forest Woman” earned an honorable mention in Clay.
Roman’s favorite part of the artistic process is “being able to make something that is specifically all mine.”
“I like the enjoyment of taking pride in something I completed all on my own,” she said.
Chandler Wilson, 17, won two ribbons: a first place for her mask “Purple Mask with Curled Horns” in the Paper/Papier-mâché category and a second place in Other 2-D Not Listed for her mosaic, “Young Girl with Apple.”
The mosaic is her favorite piece entered in the competition because making it provided a new artistic experience.
“I had never done anything like it before,” she said. “It was complicated and took a lot of time to match the values and to find the right shades. Plus, searching through magazines for the right pieces took time.”
Wilson was surprised but happy with her wins.
“I honestly was really surprised that I won at Perry because of the fact it is one of the biggest shows for us and never having anything in there before,” she said. “I am happy with how I placed because I did not think I would place at all.”
2015 Georgia National Fair Youth Art Show, Perry TCCHS Winners
1st Place High School Division – “Superior School Art Award” - $400
Best in Category – 2-D Other - $25 – Maria Davis
Best in Category – 3-D Other - $25 – Maria Davis
Best in Category – 2-D Other - $25 - Sophie Anderson
Best in Category – Sculpture - $25 – Riley Singletary
1st Place - $25
Other Drawing Not Listed – Loren Osgatharp (Marker/Colored Pencil)
Mixed Media – Maria Davis
Printmaking – Matthew Powell
Other 2-D Not Listed – Kiana Roman (Woven Painting)
Clay – Riley Singletary
Paper/Papier-mâché – Kate Weaver
Jewelry – Savannah Barrett
Pottery – Maria Davis
Other 3-D Not Listed – Macie Wheeler (Woven Sculpture)
Pen & Ink – Sophie Anderson
Mixed Media – Sophie Anderson
Printmaking – Rebecca Spruiell
Other 2-D Not Listed – James Baker
Paper/Papier-mâché – Chandler Wilson
2nd Place - $20
Pencil – Brooke Hagan
Other Drawing Not Listed – Hazel Trejo
Mixed Media – Kiana Roman
Other 2-D Not Listed – Mattie Waters (Glue/Watercolor)
Clay – Maria Davis
Printmaking – Mikayla Jordan
Paper/Papier-mâché – Mikayla Jordan
Painting on Paper (Water Media) – Sophie Anderson
Printmaking – Jessi Hopland
Other 2-D Not Listed – Chandler Wilson (Mosaic)
Clay – Josey Smith
Paper/Papier-mâché – Rebecca Spruiell
Jewelry – Jessi Hopland
3rd Place - $15
Printmaking – Loren Osgatharp
Other 2-D Not Listed – Amy Dixon (Woven Painting)
Paper/Papier-mâché – Jessi Hopland
Honorable Mention
Pen & Ink – Brooke Hagan
Clay – Kiana Roman
Pencil – Amy Dixon
Other 2-D Not Listed – Sophie Anderson (Collage)