Three Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students recently learned their artwork was selected for recognition in the Fall 2024 CelebratingArt Contest sponsored by CelebratingArt and Blick Art Materials.
Students who are recognized in the contest are featured in CelebratingArt hardcover book edition. ASMSA students selected for the Fall 2024 edition were seniors Leah Fouste of Eureka Springs, Preston Lowe of Mayflower and AB Maness of Benton.
Fouste’s piece selected for the book is an oil painting named “Caravaggio-ish.” Fouste said the piece was inspired by the work of the artist Caravaggio and his “interesting use of light in his paintings.” Fouste earned a “High Merit” award for her submission.
“I was quite enthusiastic about being chosen to be published in the book,” Fouste said. “I think the publication means a lot to me because it is a step towards my future career in the arts.”
Lowe submitted “Young Amber Nichole,” an acrylic and collage magazine on canvas with palette knife texture. “I wanted to create something bold and experimental,” Lowe said. “The painting is a reimagining of my mother in her youth. I accentuated her dress with a striking collage element, allowing it to stand out, while the colors I chose were ones I had fallen in love with.”
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Lowe said having a piece selected for recognition “means so much to me because it feels like a recognition of the emotion and intricacy I poured into the piece. It reassures me that I’m on the right path with my art, motivating me to keep making what feels right. I was in complete shock to find that I’ve accomplished something as huge as this.”
Lowe also had an art piece and writing submission included in the “Our Voices Scholarship” magazine. He said that opportunities such as these fuel his hunger for creating more art with the hope of making work that speaks to others.
Maness’ piece that was accepted is an acrylic paint on canvas called “Master Copy of Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette” inspired by a Vincent Van Gogh painting called “Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette.” Maness said she was “honored to be considered for publication. Being able to see my art published means that the hard work I’ve put into my art for the past six years has been for something.”