Westwood High School students achieved top honors at this year’s art awards from October 9-20. These young artists have left their mark on the local art scene.
They have achieved a significant milestone by securing spots in this year’s state fair art show, displaying their creativity and commitment across the state. The Redhawks who participated in the state fair were Rikima Miles 12th, Bradley Breeden 12th, Vanessa Angeles 11th, Aubrey Moore 12th, and TaNaje’ Watts 11th, with Rikima Miles achieving second place.
The Redhawk visual arts instructor Mr. John Johnson mentioned “Nurturing the students’ artistic voices involves reinforcing them with the elements and principles, discerning their direction, and providing them with a push, while also striving to ensure they pass expectations.”
The arts are acknowledged as a core academic subject under the federal Secondary Education Act.
As of 2020, all 50 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, have embraced standards for learning in the arts.
Mr. Johnson emphasizes, “that for students to excel the most, they must demonstrate discipline, exert effort from beginning to end, and be encouraged to leverage their creativity, following the guidance provided by their instructor..”
Numerous organizations and schools now provide virtual galleries, enabling students from different regions to exhibit their work online, broadening accessibility. Art shows frequently show a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art, enabling more students to find a suitable category for their work.
The kind of recognition one can receive from participating in art shows can lead to scholarships, internships, and further educational opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in art.
During an interview with one of the participating students, junior TaNaje’ Watts mentioned that her inspiration comes from observing other people’s art because it demonstrates to her that she can improve.
Watts states “As an artist, I perform at my best when I feel most inspired and motivated.” She prefers to take her time but can still achieve success rapidly. TaNaje’ has been engaged in art since the age of five.
When she was in sixth grade, she doubted her artistry, but many people were amazed by her art, and she would start drawing comics and stories on notebook paper.
Around 2020, when COVID struck, Watts began devoting more time to practicing art until her drawing skills improved. Watts also noted that she never had a distinct style; she simply always diversified her approach. Raina Telgemeier was the artist Watts looked up to when she was young; as for her inspiration for the images, she drew from realistic pictures.
Watts also shares that when she is doing art she doesn’t face any challenges, it’s just a process she enjoys.
Unfortunately, the Redhawk students Rikima Miles who won 2nd place, Bradley Breeden, Vanessa Angeles, and Aubrey Moore were unable to meet for an interview.
