MONTGOMERY-The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has partnered for 17 years with Wildlife Forever to conduct the State Fish Art Contest. The contest requires student artists to depict a state fish. Prizes are awarded in four categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, with students in grades 4-12 writing a one-page essay about the fish, its natural habitat and the importance of that habitat in addition to the artwork.
Artists can choose to depict either of Alabama’s state fish – the largemouth bass or the fighting tarpon. Participants can also choose to draw state fish from other states, which are listed on the Wildlife Forever website. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2015, and mailed to Wildlife Forever, 2700 Freeway Blvd., No. 1000, Brooklyn Center, MN, 55430.
All artwork is judged by Wildlife Forever, which also handles contest details and awards prizes, such as scholarships, art supplies and fishing gear. Art techniques may include but are not limited to: colored pencil, oils, scratch-board, pointillism, chalk, pastels, charcoal, acrylics, dry brush, watercolor, crosshatch, lead, collage, linoleum printing, tempera and crayon. Chalk and pastel entries should be sprayed with a fixative to eliminate scuffing and smudging. Complete contest rules and the entry form can be found on Wildlife Forever’s website, www.wildlifeforever.org/contest/enter.
The winners are announced May 1 of each year. The 2014 winners include:
Grades K-3
1st – Grace Xiang from the Barbara Keel Art School in Auburn
2nd – Grant Bonner from Gwin Elementary in Hoover
3rd – Abigail McDonald from Double Springs Elementary in Double Springs
Grades 4-6
1st- Victoria Wang from the Barbara Keel Art School in Auburn
2nd – Eric Wang from the Barbara Keel Art School in Auburn
3rd – Alexandra McGrew Gwin Elementary in Hoover
Grades 7-9
1st – Annie Zhang from the Barbara Keel Art School in Auburn
2nd – Yeji Kim from the Fine Art Studio in Montgomery
3rd – Reed Henderson from Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery
Grades 10-12
1st – Brother Swagler from Mountain Brook High School in Mountain Brook
2nd – Sarah Bridges from the Barbara Keel Art School in Auburn
3rd – Lexus Coyner from Brewer High School in Sommerville
MEDIA RELEASE/OUTDOOR ALABAMA/KIM NIX
