BHS art students recently competed at the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE). This competition is a time where students from all over the region get to show off their best work in categories such as photography, painting, pencil drawings, and electronic media for a chance to make it to the state meet.

    BHS sent 43 art students to the VASE competition.  Of these 43 artists, 40 received regional qualifying medals. Junior Lauren Elizondo and sophomore Travis Lopez each received a state qualifying medal.

    “When I heard my name announced I was shocked,” Lopez said.  “I honestly didn’t think I was going to go to state because there was so much amazing art there.  I thought the announcer had called out the wrong name.”

    With over 1,500 art pieces at VASE this year the competition was tough.  However, BHS was successfully able to show off their talent.

    “I was very satisfied with the results from this year’s VASE competition,” Art teacher Tamara Mixson said.  “Of course, every year we have a few disappointments.  I know a few students who were really deserving of a regional medal.  I am very proud of all my students and they are all winners to me.”

    Lopez’s piece, titled Los Hermanos, was a pencil drawing inspired by a photograph taken in the 1930’s of his great-grandfather and his brothers.

    “Overall, it took me about 6 weeks to complete my piece,” Lopez said.  “I solely created Los Hermanos for the purpose of honoring my grandfather’s memory and for my family.”

    Elizondo’s piece, titled Consumed in Balloons, was a studio set-up photograph of her younger sister, Sydney, surrounded by white balloons.

    “We did the photo shoot during the span of the day,” Elizondo said.  “We had to blow up a bunch of balloons and do my sister’s make-up, as well as find the right outfit and do her hair.”

    Elizondo spends most of her free time working on her photography skills.  Coincidentally, she holds a part time job at a local clothing store, Gunslinger, as a photographer for their website and magazine ads.

    “What inspired me was fashion photography because of the creativity that they use in their photos,” Elizondo said.  “[I like] magazines like Vogue and Elle.”

    Both Elizondo and Lopez love creating art and plan to pursue it after high school.

    “Art is a passion of mine and a fun hobby,” Lopez said.  “I won’t stop creating art until the day that I die.”

    Whether the students got a regional qualifying medal or a state qualifying medal, each artist was able to express themselves in their own unique way.

    Elizondo and Lopez will compete in the State VASE competition on Saturday,April 14 at College Station.