Brandon Twp.- Karlie Hoffman photographed her sister, Alyssa, and digitally altered the picture with roses and color.
The creative tinkering resulted in a piece she called ‘Abstract Beauty,? which would earn her a Gold Key in the digital art category in the Southeastern Michigan Region of the 2016 Scholastic Art Awards. The Gold Key, a top honor, stunned Hoffman, a senior at Brandon High School.
‘I thought it was a mistake,? she said. ‘It didn’t feel real, but even if I didn’t win, I would still do art. It makes me happy and relaxed.?
Hoffman wasn’t the only Brandon student that saw success in the annual awards sponsored by the College for Creative Studies and supported by an advisory board of volunteer art teachers.
According to collegeforcreativestudies.edu, the region receives more than 6,200 works of art and 250 portfolios from middle school and high school students, which are then adjudicated and selected for honorable mentions, silver and gold key awards, American Vision nominations, and best of show portfolios.
Besides Hoffman, other BHS students recognized in the prestigious contest were senior Kayla Simpson, receiving an honorable mention in photography for ‘Soleil,? which depicts yellow daisies, and sophomore Haley Hicks, whose painting ‘Pears? was also deemed worthy of an honorable mention. Brandon Middle School students were also winners, with eighth grader Nicole Vrabel winning a gold key as well as best in category for her digital art titled, ‘Electro,? and also picking up an honorable mention in drawing for a piece titled, ‘Madness.? Haley Solo, an eighth grader, won a gold key for her drawing, ‘Dog Daze,? and received a silver key in drawing as well for ‘Magical Swirl Tree.? Seventh grader Charlena Banfield received an honorable mention for her mixed media work, ‘The Dreamer.? BMS students benefit from the instruction of art teacher Jodi Daniels.
Jennifer Bland and Jamie Slot teach art at the high school. Bland called the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, begun in 1923 by the children’s publishing company to ‘encourage, foster and reward creativity in our nation’s classrooms,? a great competition.
‘We want to make sure we’re teaching the right things and it can be great for scholarship money,? said Bland.
According to www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu, ‘Over the years, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious program for creative teens in the U.S., and the nation’s largest source of scholarships for creative young artists and writers. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King and John Updike.?
Hicks said this was her second year entering the contest and first year winning. While photography is her preferred art medium, she won for painting, a welcome surprise.
‘It felt really good to win since I didn’t last year,? she said. ‘To me, art is a way to express yourself however you want. This painting probably took me two to three weeks to create in school. I would like to improve my painting skills and continue to enter Scholastic.?
Simpson captured the yellow daisies on camera while on a family trip to a Michigan park last summer. Inspired by the pretty flowers, she knelt to the ground to snap a quick shot. She entered several photos in the contest and was surprised this was the one chosen as a winner. This was Simpson’s first time entering the competition and as a senior, she won’t be able to enter the Scholastic Art Awards next year, but she plans to continue with her art.
‘I was pretty amazed to know someone liked something I made enough to give me an award,? said Simpson, who hopes to attend CCS or the University of Michigan to pursue an art degree.. ‘Art gives me a feeling of being free? it’s appeasing to the eye, captures attention, art is interesting and makes you think.?
The Southeastern Michigan Region Scholastic winning art, including participants from Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne County schools, is currently on exhibit through four levels of the Walter B. Ford II building in Detroit through March 4, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Gold key winners will go on to national competition. In the last five years, more than 60 top art institutes and colleges have partnered with Scholastic, making $40 million in scholarships and financial aid available to regional and national Scholastic Award winners.