Emily Orzel
Sahuaro High School
The work of art: "This is a kind of surreal painting I did of Big Ben warped. It is done in acrylic paints and is done mainly in reds, yellows and purples. I named it 'Ben and the Pumpkin' because I was inspired by the colors of another painting that's main focal point was a pumpkin."
Influences: "I am mostly influenced by the work of various artists: musicians, painters, photographers and more. I think one of my favorite influences is Richard Avedon photographs and another more recent influence has been paintings by (Tucson artist) Gail Marcus-Orlen."
What's next: "I plan on going to the UA and hopefully getting accepted to their College of Fine Arts to continue my art."
Other favorite subject: Â "History."
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Conor Quinlan
Canyon del Oro High School
The work of art: "I took this picture during one of my many trips to the Grand Canyon. Of all the places in the world the Grand Canyon has always been one of my favorite places to photograph. The day I took this image there was a large storm taking place at the South Rim of the Canyon. As the sun shown through a parting in the clouds, the rays hit Cape Royal, lighting it up and also created a beautiful double rainbow."Â
Influences: "Since I first picked up a camera, my main inspiration has been the beauty of nature, which has always fascinated me. When capturing the stunning landscapes that I see, I can't help but feel a powerful sense of awe towards our beautiful planet."
What's next: "I plan on attending the UA and majoring in ecology. In the long run I hope to participate in such shows as 'Planet Earth' and 'Life.' "Â
Other favorite subject: "Science."
Mallory Shibe
Salpointe Catholic High School
The work of art: "My photograph was a long exposure taken by myself with my digital SLR camera. I wrote the word 'love' with a flashlight, and I left the shutter open for about 15 seconds. I chose this word because I think love is the most important aspect of our lives."
Influences: "My family has always been the biggest influence in my life because they have always taught me to be myself and to do what I love."
What's next: "I am going to be attending the UA, and I want to study Web design and photography. I'd love to be a portrait photographer."
Other favorite subject: "Science. I have always loved learning about the environment and astronomy."
Martin Gonzalez
Pueblo Magnet High School
The work of art: "It's kind of like representing that if we stick together we can fight the extermination going on, the illegal immigrants and the families being separated. I would like to show that we are all working people and we don't bring the economy down."
Influences: "What's going on with my family. A lot of my family has been deported. They are from Mexico and they come here to give their families a better life, but they can't do that because they are being deported."
What's next: "I'm planning to go to Pima Community College and study engineering or graphic design. After that, I want to go to the University of Arizona."
Other favorite subject: "Math."Â
Alex Nesler
Ironwood Ridge High School
The work of art: "A lot of my work recently has been revolving around physical objects, specifically flesh. In art, there's a big instinct to ignore the physical and go for something more transcendental, which I want to see past."
Influences: "Jenny Saville is my biggest influence. Does very large billboard size paintings all about flesh."
What's next: "I just want to paint, however I can. I figure if I paint enough, everything will work out. I'm not worried."
Other favorite subject: "Probably history."
Jaron Dalton
Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
The work of art: "My piece is a reflection of who I am and is also a representation of my heritage. ... Being a Native American living away from my homeland can be very stressful at times. Through my art I am able to embrace the teachings of life and nature, to which I incorporate into elegant patterns and designs."
Influences: "Individuals who I see as great teachers, strong leaders, hard workers, intelligent, or kindhearted, all are people who influence me. ... I take what I can from as many possible ways, and learn in different ways to better understand things with an open mind."
What's next: "As for now, my goal is to become a teacher. ... A way to connect with another mind; learning from one another, is what I believe makes us human."
Other favorite subject: "One of my favorite subjects, other than art, is one where I assist a teacher in her classroom."
Hayley Hall
University High School
The work of art: "There's so much pressure for women to be beautiful and put on this persona and image. There's not as much emphasis on inner beauty. I covered the woman's eyes to emphasize that all you can look at are her breasts."
Influences: "Charles Sheeler. He's got a painting called 'Upper Deck' that I saw at the Chicago Art Institute and it really spoke to me. It's much more architectural, though."
What's next: "Going to UA next year to study psychology. And I'm kind of hoping to go into art therapy."
Other favorite subject: "Chemistry."
Matthew Rockefeller
Sabino High School
The work of art: "This piece I created actually as a portfolio piece when I was applying for colleges. We were in government and we were talking about money and how influential it is in American's lives. ... My piece was trying to express how wrapped up people have become and how there's such an emphasis on money and economics it tends to make people single-minded."
Influences: "I first wanted to be an artist when I looked at video games (including 'Mario Brothers') ... and my art teacher, Mr. Patrick Connell. He really this year has pushed me on what I can do with my art. He's helped me to grow."
What's next: "I just got back from visiting Rhode Island School of Design and the Maryland Institute College of Art. So I have to choose between those. I want to study illustration, but also study animation and creative writing."
Other favorite subject: "I really like band, but I really like calculus. That class is really exciting for me."
Elias Ceballos
Nosotros Academy
The work of art: "The thing that inspired me to do it was the Day of the Dead. The right face is alive but slowly dying, as you can see the bone from her neck. It has colors from Mexico - red, yellow, orange, green and blue. It's both sides, the living and the dead."
Influences: "My teachers help me out; Mr. (John "Ned") Gray, the art teacher at Pueblo Magnet High School, is the most inspirational person to me that has kept me thinking of art. But I just look around and I see around me. I go to Mexico a lot and I see all those colors. I find them fascinating, I don't know why."
What's next: "Go to Pima or the UA and try to do some art work. I kinda want to work at a tattoo shop."
Other favorite subject: "Science."
Hua-Man "Mandy" Wang
University High School
The work of art: "It's a photo I took when I went on a trip to Taiwan. That's where I came from. It's a temple because I see a lot of temples daily when I lived there. It reminds me a lot of my childhood and how youthful or innocent that time was."
Influences: "There's a lot of people in my life that influenced me. The person who influenced me the most is my grandfather."
What's next: "Going to college, the UA. Probably major in business and a minor in art."
Other favorite subject: "Math."
They're painters, photographers, sculptors. No matter the medium, though, one thing is clear - these are talented artists.
And they're still in high school.
Meet and marvel at the winners of the 2010 Senior Class Achievers Art Contest, sponsored by the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Newspapers. Their artistic abilities won them each a $50 gift certificate and a Tucson Museum of Art family membership.
Coming next week: The five Senior Class Achievers scholarship winners.
