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  • Tahlequah High School art students Brooke Hunter, left, and Alyssa Bishop work on their latest creations. Teddye Snell

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  • Thao Hoang, art student at THS, prefers portrait and figure work to Surrealism. Teddye Snell

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February 3, 2012

Artistic wonders

Fourteen Tahlequah High School art students’ work will be published in a national anthology this spring.

By TEDDYE SNELL Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — Anthony Amason understands he sometimes has to push his students beyond their comfort zones so they’ll grow and become successful.

This fall, the Tahlequah High School art instructor selected works from 14 of his students and entered them in a national anthology contest. Some students were aware, and others were not, but all 14 were selected from a pool of 3,000 students from across the country for publication.

“The contact I have [with ‘Celebrating Art.com’] said only 25 percent of over 3,000 submissions were selected for publication,” said Amason. “It’s so cool that all 14 of my students are among those being published. Also Brooke Hunter made into the top 10, and she’s only a freshman.”

THS students making the cut include Hunter, Kelsey Coleman, Griselda Gonzales, Spencer Murray, Genevieve Biggers, Rose Gammel, Jayden Littlechief, Josh Stacy, Jocelyn Hall-Justen, Nina Hatami, Joshua Holcomb, Alyssa Bishop, Brittanie Copeland, and Thao Hoang.

Amason said almost of the students are freshmen and sophomores, along with a couple of juniors and one senior.

“The fact that Brooke was selected for the top 10 as a freshman provides all kinds of opportunities,” said Amason. “Now, she can enter every semester through graduation, and the more she’s published, the better her chances are at being noticed by colleges and art institutes. To be recognized and published on a national level is a great accomplishment for all of these students.”

The anthology includes works from students who attend not only public school, but private and home-school students, as well. The contest is sponsored by Blick Art Materials, and publishes twice annually, in the fall and spring.The contest accepts art from students in four categories based on age: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.

Types of art considered includes charcoal, collage, computer graphics, drawing (pen and ink or pencil), fiber/fabric, mixed media, mosaics, paintings, pastels, printmaking, sculpture and watercolors.

Amason didn’t notify his classes in advance of the competition, but “may have mentioned it.”

“Some of them are afraid of entering things, so I may have said something under my breath,” said Amason. “Now, after winning, they’ll have more confidence to put their work out there.”

Alyssa said she enjoys drawing in pencil and likes animation.

“I want to attend an art institute, eventually,” she said.

Brittanie recognizes the importance of being published.

“If you get published, it will help you sell your work in the future,” said Brittanie. “Publications like this help build a resume.”

Thao Hoang prefers to draw portraits and figures. She’s glad Amason entered her work.

“I doubted myself,” said Thao. “But once we found out we won, it was really great.”

Alyssa and Thao both agreed the competition has built confidence.

“We plan on entering the auditions for the Oklahoma Student Art Institute,” said Alyssa. “We’d love to study there this summer. I’m a little nervous about it, because they only select 20 students to participate.”

According to the company’s website, CelebratingArt.com, located in Logan, Utah, believes school art programs are the largest motivator for young artists, and that the contests and publications enhance art  program curriculum.

The hard-bound anthologies are expected sometime in April.

As part of being named to the top 10, Brooke will receive a copy of the book. Others may be purchased by visiting www.celebratingart.com/index.php.

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