March is Youth Art Month, and in honor of that the Nebraska Art Teacher’s Association recently hosted an art show at the State Capitol. This year, Litchfield Public Schools art teacher Allison Varah said six students from Litchfield earned a spot at the capitol. Evelyn Varah achieved best-in-show.
Junior Jori McNeil wanted to create an optical illusion that pulled viewers in. The result was her piece titled ‘Mirrored Illusions’. She said that having her art at the state capitol made her feel very accomplished and successful.
Evelyn Varah titled her watercolor horse ‘Midwest Getaway Car’. The 5th grader said she liked that it makes the viewer think about “days gone by, when everyone’s mode of transportation was anything actually horse-powered”.
Titled ‘Kusek Castle’, 6th grade student Koy Kusek’s work was created while he learned to draw three dimensionally in art class. “I learned about how to create art that looks realistic from Mrs. Varah, I’m very ‘wowed’ that it is on display; from all the students in the state of Nebraska that my artwork was chosen.
A beautiful pastry titled ‘Wayne Thiebaud’s Birthday Cake’ was created by Amelia Thomas, based on the work of Wayne Thiebaud who is known for his paintings of desserts.
Kamden Barker, a 9th grade student, created a work using printmaking. Repeating his design to create an overall composition that connected to create patterns and subtle texture for the viewer’s delight, he titled his work ‘Between the Lines’. The piece invites the viewer of the artwork to wander into the work and explore the different patterns created. Barker’s trip to the capitol with his work was his first visit.
A drawing titled ‘Enclosed City’ was taken to the capitol by Jenna Holm, the 8th grade student that created the one-point-perspective drawing. Featuring high detail of inner city buildings, windows, and doors, the drawing’s perspective is from the ground looking up into the sky, which Holm water colored.
