Chocolate, a bird fishing for food, a woman in a top hat, and a pig on a strawberry have nothing in common save this: they are subjects of art created by Thomas County Central High School students that placed first in their categories at a local art show.
TCCHS had numerous young artists place in the annual Deep South Fair Youth Art Show, held during the Thomasville Exchange Club Deep South Fair. The school’s young talent garnered 65 awards (see box) at this year’s event, including Best of Show.
“I am very proud of the students and the dedication that went behind every art project submitted to the competition,” TCCHS Art teacher Jocelyn Rivard said. “It simply is a lot of fun for students to earn a beautiful satin ribbon and be validated for dedication to craftsmanship.”
Sophie Anderson, 17, was top winner, receiving five awards including Best of Show. She won first place in the watercolor, drawing and mixed media categories. She also placed third in the painting category.
“The ‘Bird Fishing’ shows her expertise in one of her favorite mediums, watercolor,” Rivard said of Anderson’s winning watercolor piece. “Besides direct painting on the paper, she has used dabbing, sponging, and wet-into-wet blurring.”
Anderson said her awards recognize the hard work she put into each honored piece. She chose the pieces to show because she believes they best exhibit her skills and represent her as an artist.
“I enjoy being able to create something new and beautiful that might just make someone a little happier when they see it,” Anderson said.
Loren Osgatharp, 17, won four awards, including first place in the drawing and clay sculpture categories. Also, she placed second in oil pastel and third in printmaking.
“Her graphite drawing, ‘Woman with a Top Hat,’ shows her understanding of using several pencils to represent the light, medium and dark areas,” Rivard said of Osgatharp’s winning drawing. “The picture is drawn from two photos that were cut up and woven together. Then she drew the composite on a different piece of paper.”
Osgatharp was “a bit surprised” that she placed, considering 10th grade was the first time she took an art class.
“Placing actually encourages me to continue pushing myself to become an even greater artist, so it means a lot,” she said.
Osgatharp enjoys showing her work and receiving feedback on her pieces. She’s always enjoyed creating art.
“It gives me the chance to escape the world for a little while,” she said. “I also like to use it as a way to show/remind people that there is beauty in some of the smallest/simplest things.”
Markescia Reynolds, 17, won three awards: first in sculpture and second place in both collage and ink categories.
“When I walked into the gallery, I wasn’t really expecting to see my ribbons on my art pieces, let alone a first and second place,” she said. “Placing in the show really showed me how much my art skills have gotten better over the years.”
Reynolds said she chose pieces that reflect some of her best work, and she’s particularly proud of the sculpture, because she really took her time in creating it.
“She created a charming clay piglet resting on a huge strawberry,” Rivard said of Reynolds’s winning sculpture. “The piglet also serves as a container with removable lid. It sports rich glazes in pinks, reds and greens as well as various textures pressed with tools.”
Reynolds enjoys a challenge in making her art pieces, including her winning sculpture and collage.
“The collage took the longest,” she said. “Basketball is my life so I decided to do a girl baller. It took so long because it was difficult trying to find the colors I needed for her skin.”
Kate Weaver, 15, placed first in oil pastel and second in clay sculpture and graphic design.
“I felt as though I worked very hard on them and they turned out really good,” Weaver said of her entries. “I chose them because they were my favorite pieces and are the highest quality of my pieces.”
Rivard said Weaver’s “Chocolate Still Life" is “a Vincent van Gogh-style artwork using directional lines to follow forms.”
“Many colorful layers of oil pastel create shaded areas,” she said. “Typical of van Gogh, black is a mixture of green, red, and dark blue.”
Weaver enjoys drawing, making and creating “things” and “seeing how they’ve turned out.”
“I like to look at it and think, ‘Wow, I just made this,’” Weaver said. “When I picked the pudding cup with chocolate, I thought that it would be challenging with all the objects in the picture. I was excited to see my oil pastel that I worked very long and hard on win first place.”
Students received $15, $10, and $5 for first, second and third places, respectively. Also, students could work at the fair’s art gallery to earn community service hours.
“Students appreciate the opportunity to enter art shows like this one because their work is seen and recognized outside the classroom,” Rivard said. “And, they have a chance to see how their pieces compare to those made by other creative youths.”
Shows like the fair’s also give the students positive encouragement to continue creating pieces and honing their skills.
“Shows like this help me become a better artist because they show me what things are good,” Reynolds said. “They let me know what I should continue to do with my art pieces.”
Anderson said shows “drive me to keep refining my skills as an artist and to keep learning.”
Osgatharp said participation in shows and hearing another artist’s critique help her better prepare as an artist and encourages her to continue working.
Weaver feels validation for her time and effort when her pieces are honored.
“Shows make me feel like my art is worth something and makes me want to win first every time and make my art better,” she said.
TCCHS art students also thanked Rivard for her guidance and help.
“None of this would be possible without Mrs. Rivard,” Anderson said. “We all have her to thank for our awards.”
WINNERS:
Best of Show – $50
Sophie Anderson (11-12th) – Mixed Media
9th – 10th Grade – 1st Place
Crayon Etching – Kyle Whitaker
Drawing – Loren Osgatharp
Graphic Design – Sarah Kefalas
Ink – Shamya Baynard
Mixed Media – Mattie Waters
Papier-Mache – Emily Hastings
Oil Pastel – Kate Weaver
Printmaking – Emily Hastings
Sculpture – Loren Osgatharp
11th – 12th Grade – 1st Place
Collage – Kirsten Blackburn
Colored Pencil – Ciara Ames
Crayon Etching – Nikole Bienes
Drawing – Sophie Anderson
Graphic Design - Luke Jackson
Ink – Jessi Hopland
Marker – Hakeem Stevens
Mixed Media – Sophie Anderson
Papier-Mache – Aimee Blanton
Printmaking – Ashley Simmons
Sculpture – Markescia Reynolds
Watercolor – Sophie Anderson
9th – 10th Grade – 2nd Place
Crayon Etching – Harley Inlow
Graphic Design – Kate Weaver
Mixed Media – Caylin Dollar
Oil Pastel – Loren Osgatharp
Painting – Kiana Roman
Papier-Mache – Lilia Graham
Sculpture – Kate Weaver
11th – 12th Grade – 2nd Place
Collage – Markescia Reynolds
Crayon Etching – Amber King
Graphic Design – Ahliyah Jefferson
Ink – Markescia Reynolds
Mixed Media – Chris Harry
Painting – Rebecca Spruiell
Papier-Mache – Zion Jackson
Printmaking – Jessi Hopland
Sculpture – Tayler Deas
9th – 10th Grade – 3rd Place
Crayon Etching – Ty’kaya Muse
Ink – Jennifer Ramos
Mixed Media – Maria Davis
Oil Pastel – Juan Lopez
Papier-Mache – Savannah Barrett
Printmaking – Loren Osgatharp
Sculpture – Brooke Hagan
Watercolor – Samantha Starling
11th – 12th Grade – 3rd Place
Collage – Rebecca Spruiell
Crayon Etching – Alyssa McKinnon
Graphic Design – Nikole Bienes
Mixed Media – Darius James
Painting – Sophie Anderson
Papier-Mache – Angelica Minjarez
Printmaking – Chandler Wilson
Sculpture – Jessi Hopland
9th – 10th Grade – Honorable Mention
Graphic Design – Kiana Roman
Crayon Etch – Zoe Strickland
Crayon Etch – Jennifer Wilson
Oil Pastel – Sheridan Hall
Printmaking – Mikayla Jordan
11th – 12th Grade – Honorable Mention
Collage – Hakeem Stevens
Crayon Etching – Charnice Darden
Graphic Design – Emily “Sissy” Robison
Printmaking – Rebecca Spruiell