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.”
“Breianna’s submission was top ranked by all judges unanimously – and she was up against some top contenders. For such a young artist Breianna is developing an eye catching style. Her work is simple yet very striking. She employs great use of color and the design has within it a lot of dynamic energy. It is a unique take on a classic theme and the use of asymmetrical lines is very effective in offsetting the symmetry of the medicine wheel/sun. Breianna also has a real flare for coming up with catchy lines that encompass the themes we present. The work has a positive and uplifting tone and message that is a very hopeful take on the theme of the month: courage. “
“Jayden’s work is skillfully executed and very striking. This dynamic drawing of the powerful eagle really jumps off the page and brings a fierce rendering of the idea of courage both in the subject matter and dynamic presentation. It is a bold and beautifully executed interpretation of the theme of the month. We want to see more from this young artist.”
“Jordan’s peice is striking both in the use of color and in the interpretation of a traditional motiff. His creative choices – the lightning, the flourishes on the feathers – create movement in a piece that also has very static elements. Jordan entered two submissions this month – both which reflect his unique style and approach to drawing. His natural skill is apparent and with some focused work has great potential to really blossom.”
” Aidan’s poem grabbed us immediately. This is a powerful and poetic piece which demonstrates how much can be said with just a few thoughtfully selected and arranged words. The poem is honest and haunting and pulls the reader in in just a few short lines. It is a deeply moving work.”
“Jewelia’s drawing struck us on so many levels. Her visual lay out echoes her idea of standing tall in many ways: the figure dwarfing the earth below, radiating color that reaches up to the sky above. The strength of the body position and the dynamic lines of movement all suggest strength and power. Jewelia’s drawing encompasses a natural sense of shape and line and color which all blend beautifully with the message. A very positive and uplifting work.”
“Ted’s drawing shows skill on many levels. Great use of color and a great sense of dynamic movement in the way he uses the strokes of color and the positioning of the horse. It sends a message of power and courage.”
“Marena’s piece is simple and poetic. Her selective use of cooler colors is very effective in giving the work a thoughtful tone. The windswept lines of her drawing give the work a lyrical feeling. Her text has a quiet power to it as does her image.”
“Tayza contrasts strong ideas, bold colors, and patterns against a field of black. The dark background allows the colors and ideas to jump out. It is a very striking marriage of text and visuals.”
“Jasmine’s painting combines an abstract sensibility with eye catching color and bold lines of symbol and text to create a piece that is simple in its few elements but very compelling. Beautiful use of color.”
“Jacinda is a second time winner! She again has found a very creative way to use a classic motif – this time the dream catcher. Her use of color and symbols and text all create a very positive and uplifting message.”
“Tina’s submission is simple and very effective. The use of color and line work very well and the skill in lettering shows strong ability. Can’t wait to see how Tina develops as she continues to practice and experiment with new ideas and techniques!”
“Joey has a great eye for color and great skill. The picture was very successful in relating a mood and a tone. That is very hard to do! We can’t wait to see how Joey inyterprets upcoming themes. Beautiful sense of color and composition. “
“Makana has created a complete peice of art. Done in the style of a comic book – we see his character go through a whole arc of being afraid and then conquering his fears as demonstrated both visually and in his dialogue. Animation and comic book art takes a certain knack to create and Makana shows skill for telling stories in this genre. We can’t wait to see how Makana’s work developes as his skill increases!”
“Lewis’ submission is a very clever twist on a well known symbol. Very creative and well executed.”
