May Saize
Central Senior High
Broken Dreams
Tempera Paint, 8” x 10”

Broken Dreams tells of the doubt of wondering whether the path you’re taking is the correct choice. In the process of making this artwork, I discovered the importance of the color scheme needed to portray the mood of the art. This artwork is how I imagined and visually perceived the crumbling dreams that occur in the minds of people. 

Elise
Central Senior High
Self-Portrait
Watercolor Paint, 17 ⅛” x 14 ¼”

Before this project, I had never painted myself. I was used to painting other people loosely from reference photos, and often tweaking facial features, hair colors, and expressions. It was difficult for me but incredibly important to be forced to paint what I really looked like at the time.

Jasmine
Central Senior High
Untitled
Oil Pastel, 26 ⅛” x 17 ½”

Eowyn
Creative Arts Secondary School
Mysterious Feelings
Acrylic Paint, 9” x 12”

As you look into people’s eyes, you see an emotion… but not necessarily one you can understand. Everyone experiences the slow steadiness of life as well as excitement and vibrancy. The greys and blues of this painting reveal the peace and steadiness of life. I was very careful while painting these parts especially because of how dark they were, and I felt at peace while doing it. Unlike the cool colors, the yellows and pinks represent the joy and excitement in our lives. I felt quite happy while painting these parts. While making this piece, I learned about the importance of color choices and having a steady hand. 

Palee
Creative Arts Secondary School
Women’s Pride
Pencil and Color Pencil, 8.5” x 11”

My art piece was inspired by a past event in my life, when I felt that my pride was torn apart. I drew this piece to represent that women, like myself, have pride. Whether it’s their talent, their looks, or just their pride as a human being. While I was making this piece, I came to have the desire on how to shade properly, and how to make the piece have a lot of expression. The rainbow flag symbolizes that our sexuality is also our pride. We put our sexuality, gender, talent, and our role as our pride, and it will not be taken down that easily. Even if it does, we will keep fighting to keep our pride to get back up again because I believe that women’s pride is as important as men’s pride!

Raymond
Creative Arts Secondary School
Overflowing Feelings
Clay, 3.5” x 5”

Anger; it’s the small things in life that can cause you to feel certain emotions, and they’ll fill up. When things start to fill up more and more, you begin to overflow, and everything spills and creates a mess. At first, I was just making a regular cup. But throughout the day, little stuff in my daily life started to annoy me. It was hard to keep the stress and irritation in. Eventually I put my animosity into that cup without realizing it. It gave me a bit of a chuckle, and I felt like I transferred my annoyances into another container. I thought of the idea of making it rusty red because it just fits the feeling of frustration.

Morgan
Highland Park Senior High
Untitled
India and Acrylic Ink, 10” x 13”

Quinn
Highland Park Senior High
Meat
Colored Pencils, 8” x 11”

My piece is a realistic colored pencil drawing connected to my views of the meat industry. Approximately fifteen to eighteen percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock, particularly raising cattle. As a vegetarian, I find that reasons for vegetarianism is not limited to a moral debate over the killing of animals, but rather backed by the numerous negative impacts raising and killing animals causes to the environment. The piece is intended to cause viewers to reflect on their dietary choices and how it impacts the world around them.

Naomi
Highland Park Senior High
The Stars
Colored Pencils, 8” x 11”

Through this piece I wanted to communicate the definition of a star sticker. Throughout school, starting in kindergarten, you were given star stickers on your work. They were supposed to symbolize “good job” and “excellent work”. By having a portrait with a blank face, zero emotion, with the star stickers, it is supposed to show a story. The story being you can do good in school, get a sticker on some work and be told you did good, although you might not feel that way. A lot of students aren’t happy and feel like they do bad in school, so that star is supposed to be telling them to “suck it up” and appreciate it. When that isn’t always going to be the case for someone, especially a student with other things going on. 

Finnegan
Highland Park Senior High
Rope
Digital Photography, 19.5 " x 15.5"

Fadumo
Highland Park Senior High
Memories
Digital Photography, 15.5" x 19.5"

Zyaisah
Highland Park Senior High
Strength
Digital Photography, 15.5" x 19.5"

Nong
Highland Park Senior High
Derpy Plant Monster Jar
Ceramic, 9"x 4.5"x 3.5"

My artwork is a container that looks like a  monster made out of clay and then glazed.  I first wanted to make it have dragonish characteristics like a tongue slithering out from the mouth. I then added the plant to the monster.  I wanted it  to show the petals of a flower decaying and slowly losing life. The flower losing its life represents that not everything lasts forever. Every individual living thing will experience the cycle of life.  

Miles
Open World Learning Community
Self Portrait
Pen, Watercolor, and Marker, 6” x 8”

Self-portraits are an expression of the artist in the purest form. In this piece, I used line and color to tell my story by flowing between fluid and geometric figures. With the use of landscape symbols, I connect myself to the natural world. 

Milani
Open World Learning Community
"King", "Dance", and "Color"
magazine collage, cardboard, the written word, 20" x 11", 15 "x 16", 16" x 14"

Veronica
Open World Learning Community
Self Portrait
Acrylic on canvas board, 16" x 20"

Alexander
Highland Park Senior High
Kpop
Plaster, 7" x 8.5"x 5.5"

In my sculpture I wanted to show the movement of someone doing something they enjoy, dancing.  I discovered how to use the plaster, making things smooth so that it could be more easily painted later. I learned to use the plaster and paint to make my figure look like it is wearing clothing of a Kpop idol. I have personal experience with dancing and performing in front of an audience.  I enjoy dancing and that is the inspiration for my artwork. 

Ava
Johnson Senior High
Rio Linda Taco
Ceramics

I wanted my piece to tell the story of how me and my best friend bonded over the five years we have known each other; eating our favorite food together. One of the biggest things I discovered throughout the process of this piece was how to ask for help and figuring out how to cut the slit for the lid. Through this experience, I’ve learned to problem solve, connect with my teacher and bond with others in the class.

Kaylie
Johnson Senior High
Within the Eyes of the Beholder
Digital Photography, 8” x 10”

Everyone has two sides: one that is willing to be shown and another that remains in the dark. Through my process of taking this photograph, I was able to be adventurous with the concept of playing with shadows and direct light in order to display contrast over a subject to add more emotion. This photograph helped me find the hidden beauties within darkness and light, as well as that there is more to an individual than meets the eye.

Alejandra
Johnson Senior High
A Blooming of Happiness
Digital Photography, 8” x 10”

When I took this photo, I was in the best state of mind; I was in my happy place experiencing a blooming of happiness. I wanted to express the happiness I felt by showing the brighter colors and help the viewer imagine nature's different blooms and different smells. This piece of art had to portray the mood of being enlightened, and I think the lighting did just that.

Tou Lao
Johnson Senior High
Mystical Creature
Markers, 22” x 14 ⅛”

The Loch Ness monster is known to be sighted for years but many consider it extinct. I chose the color of the galaxy for it is bright and beautiful for the creature that rules the deep ocean. The ocean is not yet completely explored and those beautiful creatures could be lurking under us hiding its beauty. 

Alaya
Johnson Senior High
Relaxing in Fur
Color Pencil and Marker, 9 ¾” x 9 ¾”  

When you look at fur coats, carpets, and furniture, you start to wonder to yourself on how they were made and soon, the dark truth would come to light. It’s saddening to know that animals are being slaughtered and being used for our own needs. In this artwork, I want to express how serious I am about this and to get straight to the point. 

Allison
Johnson Senior High
Pick a Flower
Acrylic Paint, Wood, and Fake Flowers, 22 1/4” x 18”

The abuse and mistreatment of women forced into sex trafficking is always romanticized and misunderstood by the media and general public. I made this piece to spread awareness about prostitution and the many lives that it ruins. The flowers that are coming out of the woman's chest are symbolic of innocence and you can clearly see the flowers are slowly falling out of her as the hands of several people pull apart her flesh. However, she still keeps a smile on her face because that is what she, and many other prostitutes, have been taught to do. This piece is also painted on an old and used piece of wood to symbolize the way sex trafficking victims are abused and the pain that they feel. 

Chia
LEAP High School
Beetle Print
Tempera and Ink, 14” x 20”

When I make art I’m happy. This print reminds me of being in nature and seeing many beetles scattering across the ground. I made one printing plate of a beetle and repeated printing to create movement. Having some beetles going off the edge, helped make it seem like there could be more beetles beyond the frame. The colors are the colors of Spring.

Der
LEAP High School
Beautiful Birds
Tempera Paint, 11” x 11”

This painting was inspired by Amate Folk Art from Mexico. Amate painting is painted on the inner layers of tree bark that is flattened and used as a painting surface. I like the way the folk artists celebrate nature using bright colors and animals. I am Hmong and our Folk Art is similar, but most often it is sewn rather than painted.

Min
LEAP High School
Flower Pattern
Tempera and Ink, 16” x 16”

This print was made by drawing a grid and repeating asymmetrical design. Printing the design made it easier to repeat the pattern in all directions. I liked how the colors turned out in the end. I worked many days painting the color. At one point I knew when it was complete and it was just right!

Zachariah
Janet
Elizza
Washington Technology Magnet
Arcane
Photography and Adobe Photoshop
11” x 14” 

No matter where we stand we will always be watching and waiting to see what greatness we will make of ourselves. More often than not it’s a tragedy that manifests. Nevertheless, we are there standing back to back and moving forward at the same time.

Charllene
Washington Technology Magnet
Radial Design
Photography and Adobe Photoshop
11” x 14”

As high school is slowly coming to an end for me, I wanted to capture my perspective on what I saw in these three things. The large, shiny, and sliver sink was where I was able to wash my mistakes away. The dusty books standing on the bookshelf, was what filled my mind with knowledge. And lastly, the steps on the staircase were the steps that I used to help elevate my academic growth.

Sabrina
Untitled
Washington Technology Magnet
Colored Pencil
8” x 10”

Lou
My Favorite Things
Washington Technology Magnet
Pencil
8” x 10”

William
Hollow Fox
Washington Technology
Colored Pencil
8” x 11”