Students rank as finalists in state art competition

This+piece+by+senior+Isabelle+Schmidtberger+was+a+finalist+in+the+photography+category+in+the+%E2%80%9CKansans...As+Talented+As+You+Think%21%E2%80%9D+art+competition.+%E2%80%9CI+sent+an+image+that+I+titled+%E2%80%98Seeing+the+Future%E2%80%99+and+it+features+my+friend+Peter+and+the+American+flag%2C%E2%80%9D+Schmidtberger+said.+%E2%80%9CIt+is+actually+three+photographs+that+I+put+together+to+make+one+image.%E2%80%9D%0AImage+courtesy+of+Isabelle+Schmidtberger+%0A

This piece by senior Isabelle Schmidtberger was a finalist in the photography category in the “Kansans…As Talented As You Think!” art competition. “I sent an image that I titled ‘Seeing the Future’ and it features my friend Peter and the American flag,” Schmidtberger said. “It is actually three photographs that I put together to make one image.” Image courtesy of Isabelle Schmidtberger

By Kira Auchenbach

Eight students were selected as finalists for the “Kansans…As Talented As You Think!” art competition.

Seniors Samuel Dykes, Isabelle Schmidtberger, Nia Rutledge and Caroline Baloga, and juniors Dusty Morris, Clara Severn and Ella Denson-Redding had their photos and drawings selected to continue to the second round of judging.

Kansas high school students could submit their work into eight categories: painting, black and white, pastel, freedom-inspired, mixed media, drawing, portrait, and color photography.

Rutledge, Morris and Denson-Redding won their categories. The winners in each category received $300 scholarships, while the other finalists received $100 scholarships.

Morris, won in the still-life category, submitted a pastel still life using red and green as the main colors.

“I like red,” he said. “Personally it’s just got a lot of red on it, and the contrast between the red foreground and the dark green background with the lighter green glass plate underneath for the lower foreground just looked cool.”

The award banquet for the finalists was on Jan. 29 at the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City building. The finalists’ work was displayed and scholarships were awarded. There, they had the opportunity to sell their winning pieces.