Throw Back Thursday - Honorable Mention, 1998

In 7th grade I entered one of, if not my very first, art competitions. The rules were minimal--we were allowed to submit any type of art and any subject. I knew I wanted to enter, but I was uninspired. I have come to believe that assignments without many parameters or prompts can be the most difficult assignments, and often inspire the least creativity–at least on my part. There is something about having boundaries with which to run up against, push, rethink, and mull over that gives me the motivation to produce better work. There is a problem to solve, and I think creativity often shows itself most valuable in these situations.

All that to say, since there was no prompt, and I was just left with a completely open assignment, I really struggled. Also, at this point in my life, I didn't really think about how I could create my own prompt, or give myself my own problem to solve. Just a few years earlier we had moved out to a new school, in a newer school district, with less inspiring art classes. I didn't learn many new things in my middle school art classes, though I think we watched "The Yellow Submarine" video a couple of times...which was interesting. 

What finally did inspire me was seeing Bob Ross on tv after school. After watching an episode or two, I wanted to try it myself, and the product was this painting. 

I turned it in to the competition, along with several of my peers, and the day the results came out, I was really nervous. I don't recall how I found out, but I do remember the embarassment of recieving an honorable mention. My pride was bruised, which was probably good for me, but I still entered again the next year...another landscape (well, this one was technically a seascape) and another honorable mention. I was much more hesitant to enter any competitions after that.