Visual Arts ²⁰²¹

Defeated But HopefulOil and acrylic painting with Sharpie markersBriana ChavezAge: 16

During the past two years, the pandemic has helped me grow by forcing me to better not only my art skills, but my coping skills as well. My piece is about using art to help escape the hardships of living in a pandemic. In the artwork, the crying woman represents my mental health struggles while the black clusters of dots represent uncertainty, depression, and other negative feelings. The organic shapes created by the negative space that the dots leave represents my artwork because through the pandemic, my struggles are what made my most recent works of art. Although the woman in the artwork is experiencing sorrow, I wanted to have a lot of bright colors in the piece to show that hope is not completely lost. After being isolated for a while, I began to struggle more and more with my mental health, but the one thing I could look forward to that no one could ever take away was my self expression. So when the pandemic caused me to spiral into a lot of negative feelings, I used those feelings as fuel in order to create artwork that I can be proud of. This gave me the time and motivation to practice drawing and painting, which allowed me to express my pain in a more healthy and productive way. I put my soul into every dot and brushstroke because even though I felt defeated and tired, I knew that all I had to do was get through the rough times, and that there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Bright eyesdrawing and illustrationLaritza FernandezAge: 17

I wanted to make a drawing on toys and objects I grew up with and the colors being a main view especially for children because they're sill exploring and the toys would attract them, while the makeup would attract teens.

Sunset Before Approaching Stormacrylic paintingElle ReedeAge: 17

On the face of this painting, many would only see a sea scape. However, to me, this approaching storm at dusk, beautiful and yet threatening, represents the current political landscape and COVID pandemic. As a young woman, as yet unable to vote and voice my beliefs, I deeply connect to the lone sailboat as it heads into the storm. So much uncertainty surrounds its future, yet it continues and will prevail. Everyone is facing a storm in their lives. We may not always be able to see the outcome on the other side, but we have to move forward like the little boat. For the storms we have been through and the storms we have yet to come.

Beauty's Sake Photomontage and painting Kirsten ScottAge: 15

New Perspectives: This piece is a representation of the pressures society places on women. Society sends a confusing message to women, constantly telling them what they should and shouldn't be, or do, or look like. The unfair, unclear societal expectations of what it means to be beautiful make women and young girls feel unworthy of the title "beautiful." It robs them of their true identity and shutters their voice. Instead of defining beauty as a seat atop a teetering pedestal, or an outward measure of worth, we should define it as embracing who we are, as we are, inside and out.

Stress on the bonesCharcoal Sage MunizAge: 17

This peice is apart of social activism. I want my peice to speak about mental health and the toll that it takes on our body. How stress can make us feel like we are falling apart. I want my peice to speak about mental awareness and not silence it.

Beauty of the Gloomy PaintingCecilia MezaAge: 15

We can find beauty and peace in the smallest things, even in this grey and gloomy world we live in right now.

Laughing matterPaintingChloe ShawAge: 14

My concept for the artwork was to create a glimpse into an almost nostalgic moment in time. I painted a fictional scenario, but The scene was a reflection on the new perspectives I’ve gained in real life. One doesn’t typically appreciate something to its fullest until they’ve lost it. This piece shows my newfound perspective (and appreciation) on friendship and intimacy in contest to the isolation of quarantine.

BrutalityillustrationXander StephenAge: 14

My artwork deals with Social Activism. During lockdown I became more aware of injustices in the world, such as police brutality against minorities, and that is where I found my inspiration for this piece. As both a queer and transgender youth, this theme immediately resonated with me.

Reality in 2020Painting (drawing)Maite LopezAge: 15

In 2019, Covid 19 was discovered in China. We weren't cautious about the new strange disease. Until that disease turned into a virus and was detected in February, 2020. We weren't expecting for the virus to spread that quickly, but it changed our lives dramatically. It changed our lives not only physically, but also meatily. It changed our education to remote learning. A lot of students struggled to get internet to be in their classes. Not only it changed our education, but also the resources. We were running out of supplies. But not only that, when the moments got dark, where we needed each other the most, it couldn't happen. We all needed to stay social distanced, but it has been a year, a year that we hope that everything can get back to the way it was.

Long NightsAlcohol Marker, Colored PencilIris UnderwoodAge: 14

In March 2020 when we were suddenly thrust into quarantine, I found myself longing for family and familiarity. All the simple pleasures of life that I had taken for granted were suddenly what I wished for. My sister has clutched this well-loved puppy through many long nights, when the closest thing she had to sleepovers with her best friend was a stuffed animal. It symbolizes how, during this pandemic, even adults have returned back to the uncomplicated satisfactions of their youth to escape the absurd conditions we are forced to endure nowadays.

Knowledge of the World’s ExperiencePaintingIsabella DavilaAge: 15

I decided to focus on the topic of Growth. I threw a bit of New Perspective and Social Activism in as well, but the main subject is supposed to be Growth in all categories. My piece depicts the different topics brought up in every student's life. School can be stressful when assignments pile up or when teachers become strict. And as every teenager goes through the education system they are hit with a series of challenges and questions that they themselves must figure out. “What group do I join?”, “What’s my sexuality?”, “Should I be more social, or just keep to myself?”, “Can I ask for help?”, “Should I talk about my political and religious points of view?”. It can be confusing and very few will ever get by without the scrapes and burns of their experiences. My art piece is meant to show the endless ideas a person can come up with. The audience is meant to interpret the galaxy in the brain as endless imagination and the four corners as the pressure of the World. Because even with every problem in the world, every bit of stress put on a person, and every opinion they have shut down and rejected, each and every one of us learns something we can use to change the world for the better.

That Perfect Moment drawingSarah BerlangaAge: 15

Alone is a feeling we all have felt but ever since COVID-19 started I have felt more alone than ever. Alone is a feeling no one wants to have or talk about it. It is as though we need to mask our feelings and act like we are okay even when we really are not. I have masked my feelings in hope that no one knows how I truly feel. It took me so long to realize that it was not okay to mask my feelings. Through this I have had so much growth I don't have to mask how feel and I feel so much happier now. It is okay to not be okay but eventually we will hit that stage in our life where everything feels right and in place for one moment and that was what I captured for this art piece.

Behind the glassPainting Sophia HarrisAge: 16

Throughout the course of the lockdown, I experienced a variety of difficult challenges. My piece is an attempt at describing the perspective/feeling of being in a glass box looking out, unable to interact with the world.

Parts That Make Us WholeOil PaintingPaloma EscobedoAge: 17

We often over look the little things that make us who we are physically and emotionally. My art piece was intended to communicate how our reliance on our senses cause us to over look them. This piece incorporates the theme of new perspectives because without the discovery of what makes us unique we will never be whole.

What's Left Unspokencharcoal and graphite pencilLeah GarayAge: 16

Adolescence is a time where one experiences physical, cognitive and psychological growth. They're getting exposed to different perspectives of the world and are starting to make decisions for themselves. This is where one starts developing self expression and morals; start questioning things such as their sexuality or identity. Adolescence is when people start discovering themselves. It's a weird time for everyone in general, but for some it's even harder talking about their experience from the fear of being judged or be told otherwise. In my personal experience, I find it hard to express myself or say what I'm thinking. Due to that, people have judged me on their own and made a version of me in their head. Situations like these are uncomfortable to come across when you try to open up to that person. "what's Left Unspoken" is meant to let other adolescents know their feelings are valid and shouldn't be discouraged because of what others might say.

Family TiesGraphite drawing Madelyn VoelckerAge: 16

My artwork is portraying the looming influence of toxic parents and how the child’s emotions are almost always overlooked. This issue was especially prevalent during covid, as children were home 24/7 and the mercy of their parents. The girls (me) appearance looks tired and unhappy, which is how many children feel when their parents belittle them and make them feel like a burden. The purpose of my work is to show and help parents realize that it’s not always the child’s fault, but maybe their own.

Quarantine illustrationLily BlandAge: 14

my piece shows how i grew during quarantine and what i did during quarantine, and how it helped me to become a better artist

MachismoPainting//IllustrationLauren WernliAge: 17

Social Activism. Women are often viewed as object, items for pleasure. I wanted to show a woman in a provocative pose, taking back her power. She is a threat to machismo, or the idea that makes men believe they are more powerful. She chooses who and how people will view her, and she will take the eyes out of anyone who will refuse to see her how she is: human. She is no longer just feminine beauty, she is a threat to the standard and built in ideology if how women are and should behave.

Friday's RainpaintingAlysah MedinaAge: 15

Friday's Rain connects with the theme "New Perspectives" because during this time of Covid 19 we have been extremely limited where we can go and what we can do. For most of us, our backyard is our new scenery. In my case, rain is my favorite type of weather and during these hard times watching rain fall is my escape from the real world.

"Motel Mayhem"Acrylic painting on canvasLeah MayesAge: 16

The concept of my piece was to share my voice of how I felt during the Covid-19 lockdown and also the Texas snowstorm as a joint image. This connects to the Social Activism theme because I personally suffer from anxiety, bipolar, and ADHD, and during quarantine my emotions were elevated and some days felt hopeless. I wanted to express that feeling of panic and I hope that the viewer can get a sense to what mental illness feels like to many sufferers around the world, and especially what it felt like trapped during lockdown and the February storm, where many were left without power and running water (myself trapped in a Motel away from home).

Ugly WordspotteryElla LaunAge: 16

My piece is made to embody the negativity surrounding our future and the effects of fake news on today’s youths. In our developing age of technology, my generation relies on media and news outlets for all world updates, whether it be political, environmental, or even celebrity gossip. Creating and distributing fake news is becoming increasingly easier. On top of that, large news companies are putting out more and more inaccurate or exaggerated articles. Omitting or twisting parts of the truth is harmful to young generations because they become less trusting of actual news sources as the lines between real and fake have blurred.

Kitchen Countertopillustration (food coloring, ink-liners)Anisa LopezAge: 16

This illustration displays the struggle during the pandemic, that I witnessed secondhand, of my mother coming back from the grocery store empty-handed or with little to no groceries. I wanted to convey a sense finally having food at home with the pantries restocked after weeks of not getting enough groceries. My techniques included, using food coloring as a direct connction to the subject of food; warm sploches of food coloring to space out the linework, and varies linework patterns to depict value thickness.

The Things Between UsgraphiteSara HommaAge: 16

The Things Between Us is a nod to the current pandemic and the difficult environment we have all been forced to adapt to. My father, the subject of this drawing, is a Pulmonologist (lung doctor) and has been a central figure in the horrors of Covid-19. I see him come home late at night, exhausted and afraid for his life, premature wrinkles made by the masks he must wear cutting across his weary face. His devotion to help the world and support his family means that he is often too busy or simply too drained to be a husband and father; he must instead be a doctor at all times. His sacrifices mean the world to me, but I often wish that he could forget his work for a day and care for himself. The title of this piece alludes not only to the physical barriers we must wear on our faces, but the emotional and psychological ones as well.

Family Portrait Illustration (foodcoloring and ink-liners)Anisa LopezAge: 16

During the pandemic, I came to realise the importance of famiy (family relationships). I took my refrence photo the day of father’s day, one year a go; the vast difference in context from the photo and today’s present. This gave me the desire to illustrate my family, specificlly my grandparents, content. My topic is a positive and warm, there for warm colors where choosen.

Walk In My ShoesCollageJoshua RiveraAge: 17

I was able to capture a sight of my life as a young Latino growing and developing in different Environments. I was able to show my culture and interests through my piece by using many cultural staples and shoes.

Gender constructsPainting/ illustrations Ella AlcocerAge: 16

The meaning behind this piece was to be accepting of your sexualty and of how fluid gender can be. The person shown in my painting does not have a specific gender, they are non- binary and go by they/them pronouns. Even though I drew them to have more femine qualities does not mean they are a woman. The line drawings I did in the background are to portray how confusing and complicated it can be to discover yourself. I am talking mostly from personal experience because I have dealt with finding myself and who I want to be. And what I'm trying to express is that everyone and everything is and can be beautiful. And I want the audience to look at my piece and understand what I'm trying to express.

Breaking Free Painting on Denim Olivia Bea EppersonAge: 14

New Perspectives-I chose Freddie Mercury because at a time that it wasn't easy to be your true self, he was always fantastically Freddie. He represents a new perspective to me because he defied all odds by loving and embracing the very characteristics that made him different and became and still to this day is a legendary rock star.

Apple of my 👁 Painting Chloe ShawAge: 14

A statement On the way an insignificant outing at a grocery store has taken on an entirely new meaning through the stages of the recent pandemic and it’s subsequent quarantine. This piece creates a sense of dread in the viewer by twisting a personable smile into something much more sinister. During the stages of quarantine many of my friends mentioned the development of a deep sense of agoraphobia because of the isolation. This piece strives to capture that feeling.

All Up To You DrawingAva AcostaAge: 17

I was able to build a new relationship as a result of quarantine, and he has been able to open my eyes to things I've never seen before. Such as my father's severe narcissism. Like many others, I was completely unaware of my father's narcissistic characteristics, and it took another person to recognize the narcissistic parenting for me to see it. Learning this was a significant milestone for me since I started to recognize that I was adopting my father's same narcissistic tendencies. This piece is a visual representation of what these years have taught me. Just because I grew up with a narcissist parent doesn't mean I'm forced to follow in his footsteps as an adult. Instead, I can grow to be better and learn what not to be.

Where There Is Life, There Is StrengthAcrylic PaintingSara IbrahimAge: 17

My piece is one that portrays the several aspects of social activism. Koi fish are a widely accepted symbol of peace, and so their lively orange and pale blue hues are at a stark contrast against their navy blue background. This represents the challenges that most of us had to face in the past year and how many were unprepared for the hardships to come. Their light and positive attitude towards the new year, however, persisted despite the darkness in the background, or many of our current social circumstances. The steampunk clock symbolizes the lives of many who were dependent on the social activism of those who were able to stay afloat and optimistic through these tough times. By some social activism attempts, many have found their passion and have discovered an inner sense of purpose, or liberation. This can be seen by the free floating lock and key that have disconnected from the left Koi. Others, however, may have felt trapped and vulnerable by current social circumstances, as represented by the right Koi and its being confined to a key and having its gears exposed. Lastly, the steampunk goggles in the top right corner are positioned to where the occurrences of the painting are in its line of sight. This portrays how even the most brutal events have been captured by social media and mass spread across the world, to the benefit of some and to the traumatization of others. This steampunk themed painting has been infused with deep symbolism regarding social activism and the strength that it took to face and overcome these situations.

Distorted memory Painting Anna HernandezAge: 14

I want to spread awareness about mental illness

A Powerful Voice Mixed media photomontage Kirsten ScottAge: 15

This piece represents the prejudice and suppression women face every day. It is never-ending, from adolescence to adulthood, from school to the workplace. As vocal as we aim to be, we are often silenced. As free and independent as we aim to be, others often seek to limit us. As capable as we already are, we are still held to double standards. We deserve to be free to speak our minds, share our thoughts, live our truth, being the strong people we are without fear of being repressed. Inwardly we have so much to say, to share, to give. We wish to shout it out from countless times of being silenced. Outwardly it appears to be an effort in futility as the grip and reigns remain securely in place. The boarders and bars of our society are an ever fixed mark reminding us not to cross. But still we fight for our voices to be heard.

Wide EyespencilIsabella BainAge: 16

New Perspective; this price shows a man pulling his eyes open to see, but this contorts his vision. He cannot perceive things as they really are. That is how these past months in lockdown have been. People are pointing fingers and politics are enveloping everything, becoming more dangerous turning people against other people for the smallest things such as simple opinions. There is so much bias polluting our heads that we don’t know right from wrong anymore.

2.8 Years ShorterOil PaintPaloma EscobedoAge: 17

Recently, I have discovered that heavy anxiety and stress can actually shorten your life expectancy by 2.8 years. After learning more about this study by the National Heath Institute it inspired the title for this piece. My oil painting was created to encapsulate what my anxiety feels like and to promote mental health. As a result, this piece fits into the social activism category.

The Severity of SadnessWatercolor PaintingIsabel SazeraAge: 17

The concept of the piece was to discover how the mind could be corrupted by depression. I wanted to show the internal pain, loneliness, and emptiness that encompasses being ruined by mental illness. By using a black and white palette and creating a dripping effect on the subject's face and the words surrounding it, I was able to show the destruction depression has on one's mind. This illustration connects to the theme of social activism as I wanted the concept of mental illness, specifically depression, to be shown without any stigma and in it's raw form.

Boyhood Goes to the PicnicMixed media sculptureNanesko WatsonAge: 17

This piece describes the discomfort of feeling out of place, even when in a positive environment. I believe this connects with the theme of New Perspectives. Everyone has gone under a lot of stress during the pandemic, which has jumpstarted the introspection and evolution of many young people, especially in the way of LGBT+ identity. As we return to public spaces like school and work, it is hard to ignore the feeling of being left behind by others, as they don’t even know the person you are now.

Soft TunnelCollageNicolas DiarteAge: 18

I created the piece “Soft Tunnel” to represent some of the various emotions and states of mind that I experience. I started off by thinking, particularly, about how I felt when I am anxious and having repetitive, negative thoughts. I had thought about this image before and in my mind I had an image of slowly traversing a cramped tunnel or series of tunnels. Instead of having a look like rocks, dirt or cement, like most tunnels do, I felt this tunnel was more alive. It’s texture was like that of the excess steak fat, insect exoskeletons or velvet. I also imagined it in the colors of dark purple, and red. I also felt as if there was an organic element to these tunnels, in the form of distorted, obtuse images from my imagination. After I had my plan I started cutting out various images and separating them by color. This leads to the idea of having different colors and visual textures represent different emotional states and how liquid they can be. I enjoyed this concept of a nonlinear representation of my mind, and so I got to work. While the darker reds and eventually what turned to brown’s represent anxiety, self-deprecation and the holes they lead you down, I also assigned meaning to a lot of the other colors and larger images. The black and grey sections convey staring into an emptiness and questioning my own purpose, while the blue represents sadness and the heaviness of a depressed mood. The pinks, yellow’s and oranges though, represent moments of uninterrupted joy, pride, expression and being in the moment. Though, some of these colors, mostly located on the left side of the piece, float on top of a layer with some purples, which may also represent self doubt. With regards to the images, the skulls, hands and dehydrated apple faces (the beige ones) all represent in the moment, negative reactions to situations, panic and stress caused by negative thoughts. The butterfly and moth wings and fruits go along with the left side of the piece, representing freedom and whimsey. There are various elements of different sections that may be seemingly out of place, these represent how humor and introspection can sometimes appear in times of negativity and stress. And how dreadful and intrusive thoughts can blanket or weave through moments in which I am or trying to enjoy myself.

Stop Growing!Colored pencil illustrationSarah FernandezAge: 14

This work is about my struggles with rapid change in my life brought on by the pandemic and other personal issues. In the beginning of the pandemic, change was brought on overnight. It caused a lot of fear and anxiety for me, along with more recent changes in my life like moving, applying to a different high school, and the inevitable fact that I’ll have to leave the friends I know behind. However, when I looked past the fear, I learned how to look towards the beautiful moments I had been missing. This artwork represents the growth of my mentality by representing the stress I felt in the past, and how with time I realized that change can actually end up being quite beautiful.

Bedtime story Graphite and charcoalLaritza FernandezAge: 17

I wanted to illustrate my little sister reading a story to her doll because I was able to see her growth as she has new ideas of playtime after being bored all day at home during quarantine .

La Fuerza Acrylic on denim Olivia Bea EppersonAge: 14

New Perspective- Frida Kahlo has always represented strength and passion for life to me. She faced many hardships through out her life and never lost motivation to create and never give up, regardless of what life dealt her. Many of us over the last year and half were faced with hardships that none of us could have ever imagined. Frida represents to me grace and beauty under pressure and so for me she is always a new perspective.

ImmersionPencil drawingChristalina OchoaAge: 16

For my art piece I used the concept of optical illusion to represent different perspectives depending on what you perceive when you look at the piece. I chose two different types of optical illusions as a way to symbolize two different perspectives that come together to form something new like a new perspective on life.

MinniePainting-watercolor and enhanced digitally. I had it with a purple background on the original, but then I changed it to what it is now digitallyTrinity RodriguezAge: 15

I feel my piece best goes with the theme of Growth. For me it is personal growth. I have grown in my ability as an artist.

Out Of PlaceMixed MediaJessica CastroAge: 13

This connects with growth and the mental health of all the people during the lockdown and pandemic. The girl in the drawing is worried an represents anxiety and worry as many people during the pandemic got very worried and anxious about how everything was turning out. The clock represents how time went but so fast but yet so slow and in the end it was a whole two years gone by in lockdown. Many people started getting more things though like knitting, making crafts, reading or listening to music as an escape. The mp3 playing representing hobbies and interests. Some found themselves while they had free time (the eye).

The Desperate Voices of AfghanistanWater color paintingEsther KimAge: 17

My artwork shows how horrifying Afghanistan's current situation is. Everyday there is terror and dispute. This would be under the theme "Social Activism" because it expresses my opinion that "Afghans who are innocent and American soldiers who yet weren't able to come out of the country need to be treated with human rights." Terrorists like the Taliban are crushing the rights of Afghan citizens, women, and children. Afghans are fighting their way to find an exit to this persecution, but the whole world needs to give them a hand because the Taliban are too strong. Horrible scenes are happening every day. Three youths fell off from a U.S. military plane on Aug. 16th. Who made it alive in that flight were 640 people jammed together without even chairs, but there are still hundreds left in Afghanistan. On Aug. 31st, America sent a drone to kill terror planners, but accidentally killed 10 other civilians. Dozens of Afghan women protested on Sep. 2nd about Taliban's ridiculous rules and gender based violence. History is being made every second, and we have to help Afghanistan as much as we can so that history wouldn't be this tragic. In my painting, every innocent soul who are being oppressed are wearing blue, which is the color of freedom. Stars are dropping from the sky to show how the civilians are dying from terror. President Biden is holding up his hands which represents how America is afraid and weak against the Taliban. I drew this because this was one of the only and biggest ways I could tell Afghanistan's story as a young artist.

A Lovely LightcharcoalShannon LangasAge: 16

Over quarantine, I struggled repeatedly with the feeling that I was running out of time. I was struggling academically and socially, and I didn't have enough time to create art in the way that I wanted to. Slowly, that feeling changed, and I began to gain a new perspective. The anxiety I had around balancing my time didn't disappear entirely, but I now realize all I can do is do the most I can with the time that I have. I fell in love with the symbology of fire and matches- they burn in a short amount of time, but they shine bright.

Give Peace a Chance Acrylic on denim Olivia Bea EppersonAge: 14

Social Activism-As a major peace activist who's music and messaging continues to influence generations still today, John Lennon and his message of 'Give Peace a Chance', is a motto that we in 2021 desperately need. I chose an article of my clothing that I wear to showcase my artwork, in order to remind my peers and anyone who sees me out in the world that peace is a choice we make everyday and our future depends on it.

A smile in distress Drawing pencilMingJuan LiAge: 15

This photo was taken by me of an elderly driver. Many people have lost their jobs in the two years affected by the covid, and so has this old man. But I can see in his smiling eyes the hope he still has for life. He did not give in to the difficulties. I was touched by his smile and thought I needed to learn from this old man's optimism, so I recorded the moment and drew him.

Produce aislePaintingChloe ShawAge: 14

The early stages of quarantine were strange in many ways, one of which being the shortages of goods in grocery stores. This piece seeks to capture the experience of sorting through a nearly barren grocery store at strange hours of the morning.

It's Getting OldOil PaintingCatherine BowlandAge: 17

Over the past two years everyone I know has been through so much, and I've seen how drastic change and tragedy can shape a person. A perspective I've seen so many people take on recently is one of apathy towards their futures, social justice, and life in general. This piece shows that feeling of apathy that I see reflected not only in my peers but also myself. In prolonged times of crisis it can seem like wishing for a better future is childish, but the light around the figure in the painting hints that it is never too late to regain hope.

Colors of Mexico Mixed Elisa Duran SalinasAge: 14

It describes the colors Mexicans bring to a new country