Art students capture Rodeo awards

When you think rodeo, we start breaking out our boots and hats, planning what concert we want to see and we can already taste the fried desserts, baraque and turkey legs.
But for our art students rodeo is on their minds a lot sooner and they are busy deciding what medium to use, how to implement the western theme, then going through the different processes to bring their pieces to perfection to be judged.
Thirteen Panthers left strong impressions and were Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo art winners.Six art students were named as finalists this year and had their work go to NRG for final voting.Seven students also won first for their masterpieces.
” We are proud of all of them and their accomplishments,”art teacher Wanda Johnson said.
The Rodeo art competition is a contest where students from a school paint, sculpt, or create western theme artwork. They present it to judges and they explain their piece and
the judges decide how many points you get. Finalists are now able to apply for scholarships to attend the Western Art Academy this summer.
Junior, Angelina Harper, was a finalist in the rodeo art competition. Her artwork is called ‘‘Bluebonnets and Braids’’. Her medium of choice was
acrylic paint.
“Some advice I would give to someone who wants to compete in rodeo is to plan and revise, Harper said, ‘‘Don’t forget about your message’’
Junior, Adriah Tongkhuya, was also a finalist in the rodeo art competition. Her artwork is called ‘‘The Two Vaqueros’’. She chose to use watercolor and
pen to create this artwork.
‘‘My inspiration behind this painting is a comic book I read about cowboys,” Tongkhuya said.
In her piece we can see two vaqueros and they are travelling. One in front of the other.
‘‘The message behind this painting is companionship in life,” she said,‘‘My advice is to think of a unique concept and make it your own’’.
Sophomore Anaya Walker,junior Jevon Thomas, seniors Fernando Lopez and Prapti Rai were also rodeo finalists for their pieces. Walker expressed herself with her piece
titled the “Watchful Grass Dancer” while Rai vase titled “Native Spirit” captured the judges attention.
Thomas’s piece titled “Boot Extravaganza”and Lopez’s piece titled
“Majestic Solitude”captured to western staples a horse and boots.


First place winners included freshman, Vanessa Orozco. Her artwork is called ‘‘Chasing the Horizon’’. She made a sculpture made of oil clay. Her piece was inspired by
culture in Mexico. Her family has horses and that pushed her to make a sculpture of a horse.
‘‘It took one month to make this piece and I really liked it but I regret not making my piece bigger,” Orozco said.
Joanna Rodriguez’s “Senior”, Jadelyn Moreira’s “Active”, Hilary Romero “The Cow and His Friends,” Galya Martinez “The Hungry Horse” also won first play for their sculptures.
Evan Thomas’ “Feeding the Baby Goat” and Brooklynn Adams’ “Beautiful Mare” also won first place.
The rodeo art competition provides a place for students to express themselves and showcase their talent which our Panthers excelled at.