Featured Student Artist: Emi Kopke

Emi’s ceramic “Leaf Water Fountain” is the only ceramic Top Ten Winner chosen in her age division for the Spring 2012 national art contest.

Emi Kopke was an eighth grader at Lake Zurich Middle School North Campus when she created this piece.  Emi is now a sophomore at Lake Zurich High School and is seriously pursuing art and ceramics.

Emi was inspired to make this piece through observation of water movement and the purity of nature. “In my opinion, nature is the most pure element we have; without human interference nature is already genuine. Although the beauty of nature cannot be recreated, I endeavored to resemble it’s elegance by using white.” Emi explains.

Emi’s goals for the future consist of improving her artistic talent. She also aspires to have her more recent work published and also her writing.

To learn more about our national art contests, please visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

To learn more about our national writing contests, please visit www.PoeticPower.com.

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Featured Student Artist: Vivek Bharati

Vivek Bharati is currently in 3rd grade and attends Faria A+ Elementary School in California.  His art, “Dolphin Undersea”, was selected as one of the ten best pieces of art submitted in his age category throughout the United States and Canada.  Vivek’s art teacher, Mr. Aramando (Young At Art art studio), has taught Vivek much about painting techniques and has helped him to excel in the arts.

Vivek’s painting was inspired by his love for animals.  “I like to create paintings with only one animal and with dark and bright colors. I like dolphins in particular because of their unique way of finding food by echolocation.”

Vivek wants to attend Stanford and be a Navy pilot when he grows up.  He also plans to continue painting and make squadron logos for airplanes.

For more information about our national art contests, please visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

Featured Student Artist: Carissa Chen

Now in 8th grade, Carissa Chen goes to Harker School in California.  Carissa was chosen as a Top Ten Winner last spring for her art piece, “Sheltered.”  This means that Carissa’s art was one of the ten best in her age division for the United States and Canada in our national art contest.

Carissa has lived in Shanghai, China, but has since moved to Orange County, California.  No matter how far she travels, she finds herself captivated by people. “Regardless of the situations and environment we are in, humans always have a way to expression,” Carissa explains. “My travels have impacted me beyond what one could imagine. Every time I draw or write or play the piano, I remember somebody I met far away from a long time ago and begin to draw what I imagine the person is like today.

Whenever I draw, I feel as if I’m at peace with the world. This drawing was an attempt to capture the serenity and thought art has brought into my life.”

Carissa loves painting mainly because she enjoys seeing how her artwork continues to grow both physically and emotionally. Carissa is a shy person and tends to plaster and veil her own thoughts. “Drawing helped me show my own ideas. Every time I was upset or angry, I’d always draw a picture and I’d calm down. When other people have a diary full of writing, I have one full of drawings. Drawing also helps me understand more about the world around me. Take for example, the face. Before learning to draw a face, I used to see it like a simple equation — eyes plus nose plus mouth. In reality, it’s a lot more complex. You have to take into consideration proportions, planes of the face, the difference in every face, the expression someone has, race, and minute details like double  eyelids or the position of the highlight and reflection in the eye. Although I realize this sounds like a glib to many people, it’s not. It’s reality.”

Congratulations to Carissa on this great achievement! You can view her piece on our website here.

To learn more about our national art contests, please visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

Featured Student Artist: Jennifer Li

Jennifer has loved drawing since she was very little.  Now twelve years old, Jennifer’s passion for drawing has become a beautiful talent that has helped her to be recognized as one of the ten best artists in North America that entered the Spring 2012 art contest in her age division.  You can view her winning piece, “Red Panda in the Woods”, here.

Jennifer was born in China and grew up in many different places; including China, Singapore, California, and Texas.  She attends Heather’s Art Studio in Texas and has a little sister named Jessica.  Last Thanksgiving, Jennifer went to the Houston Zoo to study animals. What caught her eyes were the red pandas that originally lived in Asia, lying on the trees with their eyes closed behind the glass pane. Jennifer remembered this scene because she loved the beautiful color of the red panda, the dark background, the cool fresh air, and how it just fit perfectly on a piece of artwork. As she returned home shortly afterwards, she started drafting it.  Her beautiful artwork took a long time to finish and is one of her best pieces.

Jennifer would like to thank her numerous art teachers over the years for teaching her. They all helped her improve her art skills, and she would like to thank her parents, too, for encouraging her to keep learning and improving.

To learn more about our national art contests, please visit www.CelebratingArt.com.

Featured Student Artist: Ashley Lulo

Ashley Lulo is a senior at Lake Travis High School in Texas.  Her art, “Tiger“, was selected as a Top Ten Winner for our Spring 2012 national art contest.  This means that Ashley’s art was selected as one of the ten best out of thousands of entries submitted for her age division in the United States and Canada.

“Tiger” was inspired from Ashley’s love for animals, especially big cats.  “They are so majestic and beautiful. Their elegance and ferocity are very captivating me. The reason I chose this specific scene to depict is because of the expression on the tiger. She had such an intense expression and yet she was elegant and graceful and the water gave such a contrast to her.”

Ashely’s plans for the future include studying graphic design at Memphis College of Art and obtaining a Masters in teaching. She wants to teach art to either high school or middle school students. 

To learn more about our national art contests, please visit www.CelebratingArt.com.