Archives for June 2016

Grand Prize Darcy Hamilton Age 18

This was an extremely close race. The top four submissions all displayed great skill and  In the end Darcy’s submission won because of the creative interpretation of the theme.

“Darcy’s tremendous skill is evident. The work is very clean, streamline, and sophisticated. The lettering style is elegant and the representation of earth is very succinctly rendered. Most compelling is the motif of the birds merging into the feather and merging back out again. It is a unique and captivating vision. The juxtaposition of movement and the asymmetry of the feather with the fixed nature of the sphere and the placement of the lettering gives the work dimension and an unexpected sense of balance. The simplicity of the elements makes the unique motif stand out even more. It has movement and grace and mystery. Darcy uses some traditional elements in a very unique way. This is a beautifully executed and very creative piece.”

First Place With Honors Denato Two Bulls Age 15

“Denato’s work demonstrates great ability and the interpretation of the theme is so creative. Denato uses the negative space beautifully to draw the eye in to the central theme of the work. The lettering frames the work in an asymmetrical way that is very effective. The central design has depth in the use of foreground/background and the sparse / selective use of colors is highly effective. It is a super creative take on a traditional motif.  A beautiful blending of very traditional elements  with clean lines and open space and a very conscious use of color. It gives off a feeling of purity and beauty.”

First Place With Honors Bailly Her Many Horses Age 14

“Bailly’s submission grabbed us all right away. It is so creative on so many levels. It deals with both the theme of Earth and the theme from March for a poster design for the Lifeline. All of the elements are skillfully rendered and the underlying idea is beautifully mirrored in the drawing. Bailly has woven together many elements on many planes very seamlessly in a way that draws the viewers eye in. There is movement and drama and striking use of color all in a very small space. Beautifully done!”

First Place Makana Little Sky Age 10

“Makana is developing a real sense of his own style and his characters. His work has a lightness and sense of humor and he is honing skills as both a visual artist and a story teller! He is creating original characters that are unique. He is really beginning to develop his own voice and we are excited to see how he continues to experiment with his ideas!”

Honorable Mention        Rossey Long Age 13

Rossey’s drawing is grounded and skillful. The earthy ruggedness of the skull is a wonderful interpretation of this month’s theme. It is a singular focused statement that speaks of earth.

Honorable Mention        Mitchel Crow Age 17

“Mitchel’s  submission is a great spin on a traditional theme. His composition, use of color and hand lettering are all very eye catching and creative.”

Honorable Mention        Ryan Two Lance Age 18

“Ryan’s idea is really captivating. It is very original and creative. The merging of the medicine wheel and the earth. The animal nations living within it and the tree nation above all resting in a traditional hand. So many creative elements. We would love to see this develop even more.”

Honorable Mention        Breiana High Wolf Age 11

This is Breiana’s third submission and third award! She has experimented with oil pastels and continues to develop her style which includes simple, clean designs and great sense of color with thoughtful ideas. Her work evokes a feeling of purity and innocence. We look forward to seeing her continue to experiment with new ideas and mediums.”

Honorable Mention        Tina Bear Nose Age 11

“This is Tina’s third submission for us and we have seen her grow and try new things each time. Tina has a great sense of color and uses it beautifully in very subtle and effective ways. There is a lot of attention to detail in her drawing and the many layers of imagery from the clouds and high snow peaked mountain tops, to the lake and distant trees,down through the waters and ground below give a sense of the wonder and beauty of Earth. A beautiful interpretation of this month’s theme and a great advance in her artwork. Her effort is really paying off!”

Honorable Mention        Taliah Standing Soldier Age 10

This is Taliah’s second submission for us and her second win. She has a soft and impressionistic style and use of color that is distinctive. The ideas in her text mirror the ideas in her drawing and she is able to combine visual and written ideas to make impactful statements. We want to see her develop this drawing more fully for an even more impactful effect.”

Merit                    Ciara Mesteth    10

“Ciara’s drawing shows a lot of creativity and detail. Nice use of color choice and many layers of visuals including the birds and flowers. Very creative idea of using the earth as the tree. Good work!”

Merit                     Jeremy Andrews 11

“Jeremy has a very consistent style that is bold and clean. He uses very saturated colors and geometrical shapes that make a strong statement. This is Jeremy’s third submission and he is engaging new ideas every time he submits. Great work!”

Merit                     Sequoia Good Crow 10

“Sequoia has a great eye for color and shape. He has several themes he likes to work with like the tipi and the medicine wheel – and he finds new and interesting ways to incorporate them into his work. Sequoia has strong skills and we look forward to seeing him experiment with new ideas.”