Every January, the Blueprint Art Gallery presents its Dallas Young Artist Exhibition event to showcase art made by high school students across the DFW metroplex. For junior Ziling Zhou and many art students like her, this was an opportunity to gain exposure, challenge themselves, and see the impact of their work for a commission.
“It was definitely really cool to be able to go and see how many people liked it, and the money was really nice too,” Zhou said.
Initially, Zhou’s piece, a head with wings inspired by Roman statues, was dropped and cracked, but she decided to incorporate the damage into the concept instead of discarding it. The piece ended up winning third place in the competition.
“Winning third place was really exciting,” Zhou said. “Especially since I had put so much effort into the piece.”
Fellow junior Mallory Morrow was also featured at the gallery. She displayed a hyperrealistic drawing of her dog made with white charcoal on black paper. With her work, Morrow focused on capturing intricate details like the eyes and fur texture.
“It took me about four weeks to finish,” Morrow said. “I struggled with making both eyes even, but I worked on it for a while and eventually got it.”
Despite these struggles, her drawing was met with positive feedback from the audience.
“It’s always my favorite when people think it’s a photo,” Morrow said.
The process of selecting which student works would be featured in the gallery is a collective decision. According to art teacher Chris Fullwood, the art department’s approach requires a lot of joint effort.
“We all collaborate and decide which pieces should be showcased,” Fullwood said. “We want to show a variety of different styles and ideas.”
This process aims to highlight the diversity of artistic expression. The significance of having student artwork displayed in a gallery goes beyond just showcasing talent; it also plays a crucial role in students’ future opportunities. The gallery experience offers valuable exposure, especially for students planning to pursue art after high school.
“Having artwork in a gallery is a big deal for students, especially when it comes to their resumes for colleges or internships,” Fullwood said. “Some students have sold their pieces, and it’s a huge boost for them,”
For Fullwood, the most rewarding part of teaching art is helping students find an outlet for self-expression.
“Art gives students a way to communicate something they might not be able to say in words,” Fullwood said. “It’s incredible to see them express themselves and gain confidence through their work.”
For these students, the gallery was not only a platform for recognition but also a significant milestone in their journey as artists according to Fullwood.
“I hope they walk away from the experience feeling proud of what they’ve accomplished,” Fullwood said.
