Four students are representing Columbian High School in Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition, which opens next month in Columbus.
According to the exhibition's website, choosing artwork for the state show begins regionally, with the state divided into 15 regional locations.
The 15 regions attract 12,000 entries, and about 2,500 are selected for state judging.
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State jurors choose 300 works for the state exhibition, according to the website.
The awards program and opening of the exhibit are April 10. The show is to continue 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through May 12.
Instructor Bob Johnston said senior portfolio and advanced art students work at a college level, which is a lot of work.
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On the Web:
Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition:
www.govart.org
"It's great to have outstanding kids that want to put that effort out," he said.
Senior Doug Fox had a piece titled "Hardware" selected for the state show. He used charcoal to create the black-and-white piece that features tools such as a hammer, saw, nuts and bolts and said it is a still life piece made from observation. He thought about using tools because his father has a woodworking shop.
"It's charcoal done on a colored paper," he said.
Fox said he was pleased with the way his work turned out.
"I liked it," he said.
Senior Danielle Reis' "Color Me In Pastels II," a self-portrait she created with oil pastels, is to be exhibited at State Department of Education. She said it shows her from the abdomen up and has a landscape in the background. It was made using a photograph a friend of her mother's took of her. Her head slightly is tilted in the senior photograph.
"My hair's kind of blowing in the wind," she said.
Sophomore Alyssa Gardner created "Close-up in Charcoal" using charcoal pencil. She said the black-and-white drawing is a close-up image of shoelaces on a shoe, and its inspiration was other works she had seen. Shoelaces are not a subject often seen in artwork, she said.
"It's not very big," she said.
Gardner said she was pleased with how the artwork turned out.
"I was pretty surprised (with) the way it turned out. ... I was completely shocked (to get in the state show) because I didn't really think I had any talent," she said.
Junior Taylor Elchert is exhibiting "Pure Expectations" in the show.
She said it is a photograph she took of a 4-day-old baby sleeping on a white blanket, and the baby is off-center in the photograph. The infant was photographed in a pouch, which Elchert said symbolizes her being in the womb.
"She was tiny," she said.
The infant is the child of a client she has through her photography business. Elchert said she felt the photograph would have an impact on the contest judges.
"I guess it really means a lot to see that other people recognize my passion and, I guess, talents," she said about being in the state show.
Elchert is instructor Elizabeth Humphrey's first student to participate in the state show. Humphrey said she has had Elchert in class for the past two years. She said she has seen a lot of progress from her and sees more progress that could come from her.
"She's an outstanding student," she said. "I see her going places."
