An artwork consumes the artist, manipulates and twists his or her mind to create a representation of his or her own complex and unique thought.
Concentration radiates from junior Art 3 student Drew Bridges’ face as he smudges charcoal and mixes paints to enter his best artworks into the Arkansas Young Artists Association competition in Little Rock in March.
“I think it’d be cool to see if I win anything. But I’ve never been in an art competition before,” he said.
Though he is new to the field, he does not try to stress about how he will rank.
“I’m excited,” he said, “not really nervous at all. I’m excited because I’m getting out of school and because I love to be able to go look at people’s art. I’m not going into it stressing out. I’m just going to have fun.”
Bridges is not the only art student new to the competition; most are, including senior AP Studio Art student Dallin Fawcett. But like Bridges, he is not all that nervous either.
“I’m just really excited to get the opportunity to go and participate in such an event,” said Fawcett.
Many of the students competing do look forward to seeing if they do well, but really what they care about is not their own art, but other’s.
“I really look forward to being able to see other artist’s styles and see what they have accomplished,” said Fawcett.
Likewise, Bridges feels the same.
“I’m looking forward to seeing other people’s art form across the state,” he said.
Art teacher Dawn Graham believes that seeing other artist’s work is important for her students.
“I think it’s useful for them to see what people are doing around the state and to see the caliber of the work that’s being done,” she said. “It’s like kind of opening your mind in different ways.”
Though the competition may sound fun, it requires a lot of dedication. From art supplies, imagination, time to work, hand cramps, and arriving at the school around 5 a.m. just to drive there, a lot goes into these competitions. But with the potential of scholarships around the bend, these students are happy to be so dedicated.
