2019 Grandparent Portrait Show Awards
The 2019 Grandparent Portrait Show, designed to connect students with their family roots and instill pride, attracted over 500 entries. Of these, 118 finalists were exhibited at the Faulkner Gallery. Eleven student artists whose submissions were judged to be outstanding were given cash awards and Ribbons of Merit. Two students were selected to receive ribbons of Honorable Mention. The jurors for this year’s show were Nina Warner and Libby Smith.
“So much great work to look at – it was a hard task to choose. The variety and quality of the work is a testament not only to the students abilities, but to the inspiration and dedication of their teachers.”
— Nina Warner and Libby Smith
Standing: Amelie Funk, Susanna Lofvander, Maya Panizzon, Reyna Zuzunaga, Emma Tracewell, Elizabeth Navarrete, Cynthia Torres Kneeling: Joseph Varela, Jaden Licha, Camille Lubach, Isaac Babus, Clare Benton
Best of Show Award
Santa Barbara Art Association
Artist: Camille Lubach
Media: Painting
School: San Marcos High School
Teacher: Katie Garibay
“Grandpa in Uniform”
Camille’s grandpa, Bob Cooper, was the conductor of the SB Zoo train for many years! Camille created this painting for an assignment called “Cropped Portrait.” She said she was surprised at how long it took, but look at every inch of his face and hat and glasses, and every nuance of shadow and color that she needed to study to create this outstanding painting. It is especially difficult to create a large painting because the artist has to continually stand back to get perspective.
The Sally and Mark Hamilton Award
Artist: Jaden Licha
Media: Drawing
School: La Colina Junior High School
Teacher: Hallie Silva
The jurors were especially taken with the appealing directness of Jaden’s pen and pencil drawing of his Grandpa Joe, who lives in Los Angeles. Jaden explained that he decided to focus on the detail he could get with pencil and pen – down to spots and whiskers, without the complexity of using color. Jaden said that his grandpa is funny and easy-going which is definitely expressed in his portrait.
The Channel City Camera Club Award
Artist: Clare Benton
Media: Digital Art
School: Dos Pueblos High School
Teacher: Jacqueline Kelemen
This photo of Clare’s Greek Grandmother was taken on her 93rd birthday several weeks ago. Clare said she took about 20 photos as her grandmother talked in her animated way. You can tell by the blurred Christmas background why she titled the portrait “Mrs. Klaus.”
The American Riviera Bank Award
Artist: Cynthia Torres
Media: Sculpture
School: Carpinteria High School
Teacher: Sarah Rochlitzer
“Mi Abuelo Rafael Torres”
This was Cynthia’s first class in clay sculpture and she skillfully created a detailed, lifelike statue of her grandfather. Cynthia worked from a photo to create this sculpture, which was quite a challenge for all the sculpture artists who turned two dimensional photos into three dimensional sculptures. The jurors particularly liked the relaxed, friendly expression in Cynthia’s portrait.
The Gwen Taylor Dawson Award
Artist: Joseph Varela
Media: Painting
School: Santa Barbara High School
Teacher: Brandon Teris
The jurors were impressed with the complexity and contemporary look of Joe’s portrait of his great grandfather who was a veteran of WW11. The portrait was created by cutting many stencils and spray painting with lots of colors. There were about 15 cut stencils to create the face alone. Joe used spray paint and brushes to paint the exciting back ground. Joe is a fourth generation Santa Barbarian. He made this portrait for his great grandmother’s birthday.
The Kovacs Family Award
Artist: Susanne Lofvander
Media: Digital Art
School: Santa Barbara High School
Teacher: Daniel Barnett
“Sisters”
Susanna’s Swedish grandmother has died, but Susanna has resurrected her in this very interesting subtle digital portrait called “Sisters.” The setting is the family summer house on an island in the Baltic Sea. Below the line of the island is a photo of Susanna and her sister as little girls on a swing. Above the island line is a photo of her grandmother and her sister carrying a pail to the beach. In addition to blending numerous photos, Susanna also included a wood carving of the outline of a woman and combined all of these using Photoshop.
La Arcada Plaza Award
Artist: Emma Tracewell
Media: Digital Art
School: San Marcos High School
Teacher: Walter Bazylewicz
Mamau’s Apple Pie Recipe”
Emma used a digital process that you see in several of the portraits in this exhibit. Emma used a photo of her grandmother who lives in the Bay area. She divided the planes of her grandmother’s face into many polygons. Then she used a Photoshop tool to find the color for each of the shapes. It is a process that took several class hours. In addition, Emma got the brilliant idea to type the recipe of her grandma’s famous apple pie and subtly print it as the background of her portrait.
The Audie Love Award
Artist: Maya Panizzon
Media: Drawing
School: Dos Pueblos High School
Teacher: Anne Wirtz
“Papa”
This bold charcoal drawing is of Maya’s great grandfather who died several years ago. He is so alive in this portrait! Maya participated in the last Grandparent Portrait show with a portrait from her father’s side. This year she wanted to celebrate her mother’s side of the family. Maya comes from a family of artists. Her parents own Fine Art Conservation Labs which restores old damaged art work. Maya said they all cried when they saw this portrait.
The Thomas and Willa Mann Award
Artist: Reyna Zuzunaga
Media: Painting
School: Dos Pueblos High School
Teacher: Kevin Gleason
“He’s Just Trying to Love You”
Reyna’s family was making a slide show for Reyna’s grandparents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary when Reyna saw a funny photo of her grandpa trying to kiss her grandma early in their marriage. She chose it for her portrait. Reyna decided to greatly enlarge the little photo to show the details and the amusing expressions on her grandparents’ faces. The painting will be a gift at the 50th Anniversary celebration.
The Nelson Family Award
Artist: Elizabeth Navarrete
Media: Drawing
School: Carpinteria High School
Teacher: Deb Joseph
Elizabeth’s grandpa lives with their family so she knows well his cheerful personality. She took the photo she used to create this portrait on his last birthday. The jurors were impressed with Elizabeth’s ability to use a pencil to create all the values of darks and light and the textures to make this a realistic portrait. It’s difficult to portray someone laughing with an open mouth and get it right.
The Jurors’ Choice Award
($100 donated by the jurors of the exhibition Libby Smith and Nina Ward, retired SBCC art teachers and artists in the current “River’s Journey” exhibition)
Artist: Amelie Funk
Media: Painting
School: Dos Pueblos High School
Teacher: Kevin Gleason
“Slumbering Beauty”
Amelie looked through a lot of photos to find one with her grandma and her dog Briesie because they are inseparable. She cropped this view of the two of them sleeping peacefully. The jurors noted her sophisticated ability to blend colors and get realistic skin tones and fur texture and the interesting close-up composition. In addition to art, Amelie is also interested in dancing with silk ropes and film making.
Honorable Mention
Artist: Victoria Rendon
Media: Digital Art
School: La Cumbre Junior High School
Teacher: Amanda Dominguez
“Photo of Grandparents”
Honorable Mention
Artist: Isaac Babus
Media: Drawing
School: Dos Pueblos High School
Teacher: Kevin Gleason
Pen drawing of his father wearing his kendo uniform.