As Annabelle Larson, a Waukegan High School senior, began to conceptualize what would become award-winning art, she created a pastel drawing of a face with piercing blue eyes.
Then Larson took a piece of cardboard, tore an oval from it, and covered everything but the eyes and part of the nose.
“It represents the breaking through of one’s perception of how you see the world,” she said. “I like the idea of doing realism.”
By late summer, many of the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives will see those eyes as they walk to and from their offices on Capitol Hill and to the floor of Congress, where they will cast votes that impact the country and the world.
“That’s pretty cool,” Larson said. “It makes me pretty happy. I know I’m pretty proud of what I see now,” she added, referring to the artwork she named “Perception.”
Larson’s “Perception” was awarded first place in the annual Congressional Art Contest for high school students in the 10th Congressional District on Sunday at the College of Lake County in Grayslake based on the judging by an independent panel. There were 34 entries.
Liam Rosemeyer, a Highland Park High School junior, finished second, and Waukegan High School freshman Xitlali Espinoza’s “Pieces of Me” was third.
A Waukegan student has finished first the past four years, and seven of the last nine. A number of second- and third-place prizes have also gone to Waukegan students since 2018, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Highland Park, and Waukegan art teacher Amy Franikel.
Schneider said in addition to Larson’s “Perception” being on display in the Capitol tunnels, Rosenmeyer’s art will hang in his Washington, D.C. office and Espinoza’s “Pieces of Me” will be hung in the district office in Lincolnshire.
“Thousands of people will see these,” Schneider said. “Art is an expression of your passion. It tells a story that is totally yours. What the viewer is thinking is their memory. The best art you will do in your life you will do in the future.”
Schneider likened Waukegan’s winning streak to a sports or academic team at a school that continues to win year after year. He credits the effort of the teachers and their students who continue the tradition annually.
“Once you develop a niche, it continues to grow,” Schneider said. “Waukegan has done that with art.”
Larson, who will graduate later this month, said she plans to continue her education at a community college in the fall. Though she intends to continue creating art, it will be more of a pastime. She is planning on a career in the dental profession.
As she drew the face, Larson said she wanted to make it real. Along with the whites of the eyes, there were tiny red veins on the side of the left eye.
“I really like drawing eyes. They’re pretty. I like the realism. I make it realistic,” Larson said. “The shadow highlights the eyes.”
Espinoza said her “Pieces of Me,” is a self-portrait. It shows her long hair braided, flowers and a necklace which has a special meaning for her. The background is a blue sky interspersed with white clouds
“I have a flower blooming,” Espinoza said. “This necklace has a special meaning because I grew up in a religious household,” she added, referring to the necklace. “I like my hair in braids because it has a nice shine to it.”
Michelle Locke, Espinoza’s teacher who oversaw her project, said she saw something else in the painting. Locke said it reminds her of work done by Pablo Picasso. The shapes and the eyes in different parts of the head make it unique.
“This is an abstract self-portrait,” Locke said.
When Schneider talked with Espinoza about her painting — he spent time with each artist present — he immediately made a Picasso reference.
