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High School Students Compete in Art Contest

Dec 07, 2015 12:35PM ● By Julie Slama

By Julie Slama

Sandy - About 80 students could be found working intensely with clay, watercolors, ink, pencil, acrylics and other art mediums as they competed for individual and overall school trophies.

Artstock originated nine years ago when Canyons School District was then part of Jordan School District. The tradition, started by former Jordan High art teacher Jared Ward, has grown to include both school districts with guest judges reviewing art categories of fantasy, contemporary, traditional and 3D. 

On Nov. 10, Corner Canyon High was named overall sweepstakes champion of the eight high schools that participated, including all five in Canyons School District. The school received a revolving trophy. Each high school could have up to 12 students compete. Student work is given points for the top three finishers in each category, plus best of show, people’s choice and 15 honorable mentions.

Best of show award went to Ashley Walsh-Hughes of Corner Canyon High in Draper, and people’s choice award went to Austin Simpkins of Alta High.

Alexus Brazil, a senior at Hillcrest High in Midvale, participated in the competition for her second time. She picked a photo from her camping trip at Monument Valley to paint.

“I did the contest last year and just loved it,” she said. “I’ve never painted desert rocks like this before so I thought I’d try a new technique to do it.”

Alexus received a third-place trophy in traditional art.

Cozette Baddley, Artstock coordinator and Jordan High art department chair, said this competition is a good chance for students to expand their art knowledge and portfolio.

“It gives students a chance to learn from others and to learn another process, another approach to art,” she said. “Their teacher may instruct them one way, but there’s more than one way to approach art. It also gives them the opportunity to create a piece of work they want to create — not an assigned piece — from start to finish all at one time so they can add it to their art or AP (advanced placement) portfolio.”

Jordan High senior Savannah Page was creating a hot air balloon scene for her portfolio. Junior Elizabeth Hatch, of Copper Hills in West Jordan, was painting pinecones because she loves them. Jordan High sophomore Zak Brant was creating an original piece of art.

“I’ve never done it before, so I decided to be creative and wing it,” Zak said.

Herriman High junior Spencer Williams was molding a horse out of clay.

“I thought it would be fun and challenging at the same time,” he said.

Riverton High senior Emily Lighten was creating her self-portrait with pencil and watercolor.

“Art is my passion,” she said. “I just love it. This is such a cool chance to do my own project, put it in a contest where I get feedback from judges and walk away with a completed piece.”

Top finishers in fantasy art include first-place champion Jade Davis of Copper Hills, second-place winner Ruby Wilks of Corner Canyon and third-place finisher Brianna England of Copper Hills.

In contemporary art, the first-place champion is Molly Drent of Copper Hills, second-place winner is Miles Koldewyn of Herriman and third-place finisher is Brooks Jones of Herriman.

In traditional art, the first-place champion is Anya Houterak of Alta, second-place winner is Alana Liu of Hillcrest and third-place finisher is Alexus Brazil of Hillcrest.

The top finishers in 3-D art is first-place champion Colby Stephenson of Herriman, second-place winner Tim Wilson of Herriman and third-place finisher Kandace Fulcher, of Herriman.