First Place

Zoey and Me
pencil

by Mary Wissinger, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from Roanoke, VA

First Place in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade category is Mary Wissinger, a student from Roanoke, VA, for “Zoey and Me.”

Measuring 12 x 12 inches, Mary brings a photograph to life with graphite pencils! In the center of the drawing, the artist stands with a bright smile next to a beautiful horse, who I can only assume must be Zoey! Zoey’s head and neck enter from the left center of the artwork, perfectly depicting how large the horse is. The artist holds Zoey by the reins, with a protective helmet resting on the artist’s head. The artist wears a hoodie that depicts several horses lined up across the chest. The background is shaded, somewhat out of focus, as the artist and horse command the viewer to see the delight on their faces! Was the artist taking Zoey for a ride, or are they fresh off the track?

Second Place

Calavera
ceramic

by Andrea Valenzuela, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, IN

Second Place in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade category is Andrea Valenzuela, a student from the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis, IN for “Calavera,” which measures 7 by 8 by 5 inches.

Calavera is the representation of a skeleton, or skull, in Spanish. Known to many as a cultural element in Day of the Dead festivities, the calavera is often decorated with bright colors and marigolds to represent and remember loved ones who have passed. This artist brings the calavera to life, catching the eye of the viewer with a large, black coffee-esque mug sculpture. Sculpted into the mug includes a white skull, vibrant, orange marigolds, and a clever placement of a bone as the handle of the mug. Speckled across the calavera and bone are the tiniest notes of orange, blue, and yellow paints. This piece is a beautiful representation of a holiday that reunites the living and dead, that mourning can be exchanged with celebration! 

Third Place – Tie

The Honor of Friendship
ceramic, mixed media

by Myles Irwin, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from Gainesville, GA

Third Place – Tie, in the category of 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade is Myles Irwin, a student from Gainesville, GA, for “The Honor of Friendship.”

Measuring 13 ½ by 11 ½ by 5 inches, this ceramic artwork displays the most unlikely of friends. Affixed to a grassy green wooden platform are two creatures, tucked within moss. One resembles a big cat, like a cougar, and the other a hare, with large antlers protruding from between his alert ears. They face in opposite directions, perhaps guarding one another from potential threats. The tan, cougar-like cat sprawls outward in a relaxed pose, as though the creature had just nestled in the moss for a nap. Similarly, the hare is perched comfortably at the cougar’s backend. Overall, I would guess that these two honor their friendship indeed! 

Third Place – Tie

Girl in Orange Hoodie
acrylic

by Taryn Falagan, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, GA

Third Place – Tie, in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade category is Taryn Falagan, a student from the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, GA, for “Girl in Orange Hoodie.”

This painting measures 24 by 18 inches and is as glamorous as it is eye-catching! In the forefront stands a young woman from the sternum upward, smiling somewhat shyly as she looks to the upper-left hand corner of the painting. Her eyes are a golden brown, just a touch lighter than her long chestnut hair. Her skin reflects a variety of colors, including green, baby blue, coral, and yellow, almost giving the figure the effect of standing in front of a kaleidoscope. She wears her namesake, an orange hoodie, fitted comfortably around her neck and shoulders. The background of the painting is just as vibrant as the girl, with a mixture of yellows, starting just above her left shoulder, to green, swirling above her head, and fades down to blue, next to her right shoulder, presenting an ombre effect. The choice of colors in Girl in Orange Hoodie is daring, making for a magnificent work! 

Honorable Mention

Foil Portrait
mixed media

by Justice Smith, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, GA

An Honorable Mention in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade category is Justice Smith, a student from the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon, GA, for “Foil Portrait.”

Measuring 11 by 8 ½ inches, the artist captures a mesmerizing portrait of an individual using multicolored pieces of foil, giving the portrait a sea glass or iridescent look. The individual that the artist captures gazes outward from the shoulders up, a relaxed expression on their face. They wear a crimson red foil shirt and turquoise toboggan, with twinkling blue eyes and eyebrows. Their red lips are pressed together, as though deep in thought. Their foil skin is an iridescent copper, with areas on the right side of their face pressed in gold foil, as though giving the appearance that the sun is shining down on the right side of their body. The individual jumps from the background, in which the artist uses a deep blue foil to provide tasteful contrast, training the eye to meet the individuals. I am left wondering what demands the attention of the person in this artwork!   

Visioneer Award

A Gruesome Tale
digital art, charcoal

by Caeden Stewart, a 7th, 8th, 9th grade student from Norwood, NY

An Honorable Mention in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade category is Caeden Stewart, a student from Norwood, NY for “A Gruesome Tale.”

Completed with both digital art and charcoal, this artwork measures 14 by 11 inches, reflecting an abstract, somber scene. Against a gray backdrop, pastel shades of pink, lavender, orange, and blue dance around a human-like figure that walks towards the right of the artwork. The figure is painted black, head bent downward as if fatigued, with his left leg striding forward. Slung over his shoulder is what appears to be an ax, also painted with the same black as the figure. In the upper right corner, another foreboding figure appears, appearing to be a black, shadowy tower in the distance. I cannot help but wonder; has The Gruesome Tale already taken place, or is it what is to come?