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CEDAR CREEK — A local budding artist is finding continued success in statewide competitions.
Cedar Creek High School sophomore Lorelei Smith claimed first place in the colored pencil/ conte drawing division at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Western Art Competition last month.
Her piece, “Untamed Storm,” earned her a $10,000 scholarship, as well as ribbons for Class Champion and Museum Choice.
Smith’s victory follows another recent achievement, taking home gold in the high school 2-D division of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Art Contest in November.
When creating her most recent award-winning piece, Smith initially sketched a cowboy atop a bull, but as she worked on the coloring, she decided the bull’s expression reflected a longing for freedom. She erased the cowboy and chose to focus on the bull alone.
“The bull just looked like he wanted to be free and untamed, so I erased the cowboy and finished the bull by himself. I like the way it turned out,” Smith said of her decision.
This was the student’s first time competing in the contest, and her entry is also one of thirteen pieces vying for the Best of Show award, which includes an additional $5,000 scholarship. The winner will be announced Jan. 31 during “Brushstrokes & Ballads” at the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio. The event is free and open to the public, from 6 to 8 p.m. Smith’s piece will be on display at the museum through January, before being shown at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Feb. 6-23, at the Freeman Coliseum Expo Center.
The SASSR Western Art Competition is open to high school artists from eligible districts, private schools and homeschool students in 54 counties. This year’s contest received nearly 600 entries, awarding $135,000 in scholarships.
For more information on the upcoming competition, visit www.sarodeo. com.
