(Honorable Mention – Painting)
Title of Art Piece: Growing Shadows
Category: Painting
Student/Artist’s Name: Sarah Freistone
School: Dimond High School
Grade: 12th
Artist Statement: My inspiration for this watercolor landscape was the loneliness that is often felt during the long winter months in Alaska. The bare birch trees look bleak without leaves or color, and the large spaces between the trees create a feeling of emptiness. However, the shoots of grass and colorful sunset provide hope in an otherwise depressing scene. The plants emerging from the snow remind us of the new life that spring entails and reassure us that the sun will soon shine again.