Regional Winner for Ceramics/Clay and CWU Scholarship Winner

“Blue Trout” by Gabriella Wilton

12th Grade at Snohomish High School. Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

From the artist: I really was inspired by other artwork I had seen in the classroom on mugs, and wanted to try to do something similar. I choose to do a rainbow trout in a blue monochrome scale, using sculpting tools to make the fish itself and rub-off glazing techniques to color and create depth on the fish.

Regional Winner for Ceramics/Clay

“Decomposition” by Poppy Stilwell

10th Grade, Snohomish HS, Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

From the artist: I have always loved working with clay, it is so soothing yet also makes me feel powerful to have so much control over what I make. I adore making the small details of my projects, and watching as the vision of my piece comes to life. I am inspired by the tiny things in nature, the parts of the world that most people tend to overlook.

Regional Winner for Ceramics/Clay

“Ramen bowl” by Thuan Trung

11th Grade, Meadowdale High. Teacher: Samantha Tesch

From the artist: I was hungry one morning while the assignment was assigned and ramen was the first thing that came to mind.

Regional Winner for Drawing and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: My piece represents the whirlwind of emotions that arise during adolescence and the need many feel to conceal and trap them. This drawing acknowledges the unhealthy masking of emotions in hopes of urging myself and others to express the emotions we feel must be caged in. Emotions, just like the seemingly dangerous and wild bird, are natural, and make us who we are: something meant to be free.

Regional Winner for Drawing and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: I used an old photograph taken of my sister and I to bring the photograph my family and I have looked at for years into a drawing with charcoal. I learned while creating this project that there are many details you miss from just the first glance at the photo. If I were to do this piece again, I would change up the way I created the background and add a more fun one.

Regional Winner for Mixed Media and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: Inspired by the idea of sending a childhood friend in Japan a giant post card, I decided to paint the last day of summer break that my sister and I spent at the beach. The bittersweet feeling that comes with as summer has come to an end, and the unsettling feeling that comes as I become a young adult/ senior moving forward in life.

Regional Winner for Mixed Media

From the artist: I was inspired by other artist drawing stuff coming out peoples heads and I depicted my experience in the same manner. The emotion of love can sometime cloud you perception, leading to overlook flaws in the person you love. this experience can result in becoming so deeply attached to someone that may not be the best person for you.

Regional Winner for Digital Art

From the artist: When creating this artwork, I was inspired by flapper girls in the 1920s after doing a school project about the Roaring 20s. I like to think about the idea of girls supporting girls, even in the past. I created this artwork in Procreate using 30 layers and 16058 strokes. For my references, I used a bunch of pictures of 1920 flapper girls in their dresses.

Regional Winner for Digital Art

From the artist: I have always loved drawing animals but the wolf is my most beloved as not only is it majestic and mysterious but also represents adaptation, co-existence, and perseverance; all values that align with my Mexican culture, with colors also inspired by alebrijes. The dream-like appearance was inspired mainly by the loneliness I felt during summer, I was always in my head. Software used: Firealpaca

Regional Winner for Painting and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: My premise and inspiration was childhood imagination. As children we are able to think “outside of the box”. I wanted to bring this idea to life by drawing real life scenarios or situations through a child’s eyes which in every case brings a surreal aspect to it. I know I, and many others, relate to this idea, as playing pretend and make-believe was a core memory of our youth.

Regional Winner for Painting and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: I was inspired by David Bowie: a glam-rock icon who presented in androgynous ways during his career. His flashiness and fashion have inspired many queer individuals, including myself, to act and dress in a way that makes them happy. The title of this piece references a specific David Bowie song surrounding gender presentation. This piece is meant to convey the importance of gender expression.

Regional Winner for Painting

From the artist: This piece was made through a series of phases where I first created it digitally, then onto a canvas which I tweaked over a month or two depending on if I thought I could improve it further. After coming to America at the age of 11, I was disconnected from my own culture and placed into a new one so this sort of shows the peace I feel after learning more about it and growing my self-identity.

Regional Winner for Painting and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: I paint self portraits. My use of a limited color pallet, odd sized hand stretched canvases, iconography and expression conveys a multifaceted story. The work showcases my own questioning and understanding of my coming of age. Frida Kahlo’s expressive femininity and the perfection of renaissance paintings are my inspirations.

Regional Winner for Photography

From the artist: Originally took two photos, one of a chess board and one of me sitting down on flat ground. I then used Photoshop to edit myself in the one empty space on the chess board and to add the corresponding shadows/reflection as if I was actually there.

Regional Winner for Photography and CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: I think the things that are talked about the least have the potential to be the most beautiful.

NWESD Staff Choice

From the artist: I am heavily inspired by the naked human body and how the stance of a body displays such strong emotion. The slightest change in position can portray such a different feeling. In this painting I aimed to reflect the idea of surrender either in defeat or in acceptance. I used oil paint to create this and only primary colors, mixing them to create my range.

CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: My name is Naomia Vignali, and I am a Bellingham High School senior. This gouache piece, called “Bedroom Facing West”, explores the idea of privacy. I wanted to depict what if feels like to be in your own space. Being completely alone is vulnerable, and allows you to act more authentically than possible anywhere else. The scene is an awkward and uncomfortable glimpse into who we are unattended.

CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: In a depressive episode, I can feel like my mental state will never end, even if I was in a perfect place like heaven, which is what the piece depicts. I photo-bashed copyright-free stock images of stereotypical visuals of heaven (clouds, angels) for reference for the painting. I learned to persevere while working on large pieces from this project. If I redid it, I would raise the camera angle.

CWU Scholarship Winner

From the artist: I created the layout and colorful approach based on the influence of artist Roy Lichtenstein. His works often used a signature comic-book, cartoon style, such as “Whaaam!” (1963). This style is referred to as POP! Art, it is thought to have been started by Richard Hamilton who was an English collagist and painter. His work was inspired by life’s mundanity and the vapidity of mass media.