Even Hurricane Michael couldn’t keep the Exchange Club of Thomasville’s Deep South Fair Youth Art Show from anointing a new crop of winners.

The art show is featured during the annual fair, which traditionally takes place the week of local schools’ fall break. Seventeen of this year’s winning entries were created by Thomas County Central High School students.

“As always, I’m extremely proud of my students,” TCCHS art teacher Shelby Young said. “The judges recognized their time, effort and craftsmanship put into their art works.”

Junior Miriam Van Veen entered the competition because she thought it would be fun to see how her work compared to other county students’ entries. She was recognized with awards for two separate items: third place in drawing for “Skull” and an honorable mention in colored pencil for “Rose on Fire.”

“Skull” is drawn in charcoal and was completed while Van Veen studied the skeletal system. “Rose on Fire” depicts roses being set on fire to symbolize jealousy and a broken heart, she explains.

“It’s nice to put my artwork out for the community to enjoy and appreciate,” Van Veen said. “I like that they are able to interpret my artwork in their own way.”

Junior Megan Schminky also earned two awards. Her first place in colored pencil is for “Sugar Rush,” a piece Schminky describes as “a combination of complementary, analogous, and an original color scheme of candy ….” Her third place in painting is for the acrylic piece “Dog with Duck” which zooms in on the mouth of a hunting dog holding a mallard duck.

“I’m really proud of my work because I spend a lot of time and effort creating it,” Schminky said. “It’s always fun to share my work with the community and receive feedback.”

Junior Sheila Escareno’s “Copper Tree” received second place in clay sculpture.

“It’s a crystal cave made out of clay with a copper tree wrapped around it,” she said. “I wanted to represent a calm and serene scene.”

Sophomore Katie Marcum earned an honorable mention for her drawing, “Sherlock.” It features three of her favorite characters from the television show drawn in graphite pencil.

“I create my art works with the intention to compete, so it was nice to have my talent validated by being put on display,” she said.

Sophomore Sydney Smith drew her way to second place for her piece, “Poisonous.”

“It’s an ink drawing that demonstrates the complex relationship between two characters and their problems,” she said. “I hope no one was too creeped out, but rather appreciates all of the small details I took the time to put into the piece.”

Young, now in her second year at TCCHS, has planned multiple competitions for her students and says they are rising to the occasion with smiles on their faces.

“…They bring me their best artwork for feedback, make revisions, and are happy even to just display their work,” she said.

Smith entered the fair’s show to get her art out for public viewing. She is glad to be included and recognized.

“It means that my artwork is on display for people to see,” she said. “It motivates me to keep working hard and putting myself out there.”

Even if she hadn’t won, Schminky says she loves to share the pieces she makes. And she’s glad the fair’s show allows her fellow students’ work to be seen.

“I think it’s cool to put your artwork out for people to see,” she said. “It’s great how not only my work gets shown off but that my friends share their work, too. Getting feedback is crucial to grow as an artist, and competitions are an excellent way to get that growth.”

Escareno entered the competition to show her community what she’s capable of creating.

“When you put a lot of work into your art, it means a great deal to put it out for the community to see,” she said. “I hope it (my work) inspires others to create works of their own.”

TCCHS Deep South Fair Youth Art Show Winners

11^th/12^th Clay Sculpture

Riley Singletary ~ first

Sheila Escareno ~ second

Alandria Miley ~ third

Antoniya Cox ~ honorable mention

11^th/12^th Painting

Juan Lopez ~ second

Megan Schminky ~ third

Emma Funderburk ~ honorable mention

11^th/12^th Ink

Emma Funderburk ~ first

11^th/12^th Colored Pencil

Megan Schminky ~ first

Miriam Van Veen ~ honorable mention

11^th/12^th Computer Art

Amber Forrester ~ first and second

11^th/12^th Drawing

Sarah Kefalas ~ first

Nykema Simmons ~ second

Miriam Van Veen ~ third

11^th/12^th Watercolor

Beisy Lopez ~ first

9^th/10^th Ink

Sydney Smith ~ second

9^th/10^th Drawing

Katie Marcum ~ honorable mention