Metro-east high school artists show work at SWIC

Sara Hladick walked through Schmidt Art Center looking at the 170 pieces of artwork on display, including two of her own.

“I also like to see everybody else’s,” said the Triad High School senior. “It’s a good way to get ideas for other pieces.”

The artwork is part of Southwestern Illinois College’s annual High School Student Art Exhibition. The show opens Thursday with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. An awards ceremony begins at 7. The winner of the grand prize in the 12th Congressional District Art Competition will have his or her artwork installed in Washington, D.C., and will receive an invitation to a reception there. Fifteen awards also will be given through Southwestern Illinois College by show sponsors.

SWIC adjunct teacher and ceramic artist Anthony Borchardt and Paul Brinker, of Murphysboro, spent 2 1/2 hours choosing what they considered the best among the 21 participating high schools.

“There was a lot of debating,” said Nicole Dutton, curator and facility coordinator.

The show continues through April 7.

We talked to three of the artists about their work.

Sara Hladick, 17, senior at Triad High School

Family: parents Linda and William Hladick, of Troy, and two brothers, Spencer and Sam.

Sara created two dog portraits, rich with color, that are part of the show.

Q: How did you decide what to paint?

A: “In art class, our teacher lets us do what inspires us. That’s my dog Priscella, a rescue dog. She’s very bubbly. She likes to fight with my other dog (a border terrier named Harry Potter) that’s really laid back. I worked from photos. It’s all oil paint. The second one someone commissioned me to draw. That person wanted a really colorful portrait. The dog’s name is Domino, a rat terrier mix. Pet portraits are really big right now. I guess people have money to pay for paintings of their dogs. I started getting commissions in October. I’ve done about eight commissioned pieces.”

Q: How do people find out that you do portraits?

A: “In our school, there’s a case where we hang paintings up. A couple teachers asked me to do portraits; people from Dad’s work, too. Right now, I make about minimum wage when supplies are (figured in). Most portrait artists charge a minimum of $600. The most I have charged is $150.”

Q: What do you like about art?

A: “It’s really relaxing. I’ve always loved to do it since I was little. I discovered I love oil painting last fall.”

Q: Any artists in your family?

A: “My aunt and a lot of my family are all painters and wood workers. My uncles make their own furniture out of trees.”

Q: Do you have plans for college?

A: “I am going to Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio. I found it on a website. It had everything I liked. I plan to get a bachelors in fine arts. I think I want to major in fashion design.”

Q: How did you know you were good?

A: “When people started to commission me, they actually think I am good enough to pay for my work.”

Q: Other interests?

A: “I love to dance. I am in the band at school. I play the alto sax. I love jazz.”

Q: Favorite subject besides art?

A: Math and calculus, because it’s kind of like solving a puzzle.”

Q: Do you have any artwork on display at your house?

A: “Mom has pieces in the entryway, living room and family room. Grandma has some in the stairwell. I’m just really proud and happy my parents support me.”

McKayla Brooks, 17, senior at Belleville East

Parents: Mellissa and Barrett Brooks, of Belleville, and a younger sister.

McKayla created a nature-inspired sculpture, “River of Knowledge,” by carving books to resemble a flowing river.

Q: How did you do it?

A: “I started laying books together. I drew an outline ... then took each book and used a saw to cut it, and a dremmel tool to smooth out the books and carve each groove. I used an epoxy resin to harden it and resin ink to give it the blue color. I’ve been experimenting with different mediums and pushing myself to do more creative things. I made the shelf it’s on in industrial arts class in middle school. I thought it would be perfect for this project.”

Q: How did you decide what to enter?

A: “You sit down with the teacher (Candice Santos). They can only submit a certain number per school. They talk to you about your strongest piece. I had just finished it and was excited about sending it off.”

Q: What do you like about art?

A: “It’s not a very black and white area. There are an infinite amount of ways to create art. It’s always evolving. There are always new ideas that can affect the art world.”

Q: Where will you go to college?

A: “I am going to SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), an art college in Georgia, in the fall. I am majoring in photography and graphic design.”

Q: How did you know you were good at art?

A: “I always had an interest. Dad is an artist. I grew up watching him make things. ... Once I got to high school, I started taking more art-based classes.”

Q: What will you do with your piece after the show?

A: “I thought about selling it. I’m not really sure. I may keep it for my portfolio. If they are for sale, they will be listed. Mine is listed at $300.”

Q: How do you figure the price?

A: “How many hours I put in times the minimum wage. It took quite a while. I finished it four days before it had to be sent off.”

Q: Do you have a favorite artist?

A: “An underground (graffiti) artist in the UK named Banksy. I follow his social media page. He does spray paint art, controversial pieces, then leaves them in public places for people to interact with. Do they cover it up or take it? His themes are police brutality, hate groups, terrorists, stuff people are scared to talk about.”

Q: You artwork is built around books. Do you have a favorite?

A: “I liked the Harry Potter books. I always go back to those.”

Jordan Eiland, 18 (on March 26), senior at Althoff Catholic High School

Family: parents Anthony and Tiffany, of Fairview Heights, and sister Jayda, 12.

Jordan did a charcoal portrait of an American rapper named Big K.R.I.T.

Q: How did you choose your subject?

A: It was for Advanced Drawing Class. This is my critique piece. We were supposed to work on it at home. I was listening to K.R.I.T.’s music, and it kind of happened. I found a picture off the Internet. I just cranked it out real fast with charcoal. I was really happy with the way it turned out.”

Q: What did your art teacher say about it?

A: “He (Dave Westhouse) liked it. He told me to paint K.R.I.T.’s symbol at the bottom ... When I initially brought it in the day after I thought it was done, he told me to outline the face because it was kind of flat.”

Q: What do you know about K.R.I.T.?

A: “He is a rapper (Big K.R.I.T.’s given name is Justin Scott) from Mississippi. My family is from Mississippi. When I went down there, I heard him a lot. He’s very relatable to me. He’s very Southern. He epitomizes how many black people think.”

Q: What do you like about working with charcoal?

A: “It’s very forgiving so I can make a lot of mistakes and correct them.”

Q: What do you plan to do after high school?

A: “I plan on going to SWIC for a year, then transferring. I want to be an art teacher. I have taken every art class except for ceramics, which I am doing now.”

Q: What do you like about art?

A: “It allows me to express how I feel and how I see things. It has always been something I can rely on.”

Q: Who was the first person that said you had talent?

A: “My mom. I drew a family portrait when I was 5. We looked like potatoes, but she told me I was good anyway.”

Q: What are your other interests?

A: “Music. I like to play the guitar. I like working on cars. I like being underneath a car. I have a Chevy S10 (pickup) and a 1985 Monte Carlo SS. I have to take care of them a lot, especially the older one.” Jordan also plays volleyball for Althoff. “We look really good this this year. Our first game is Thursday.”

Q: Any art on display at home?

A: A landscape and my very first charcoal drawing. It’s in our living room. Mr. Westhouse had us draw some pots that two ceramics people made. We had to do it in chiaroscuro style. It was very time-consuming.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Metro-east high school artists show work at SWIC."