Middle school students in Teller and Park counties are out in front when it comes to flexing their artistic muscles.  In fact, the Mountain Artists were so impressed with the entries in the student art show over the past few years, they added prizes.

The first three winners in the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades win Walmart gift cards, $30, $20 and $10.  And they still get ribbons for the first three places.  

“We had 33 middle-school students submit art last year,” said Beth Sterkel who coordinates the art show for the nonprofit organization. “We had drawings, paintings, a bazillion different categories.”

Amy Spring, Teller County muralist, has agreed to judge the entries, with no separate media categories.

“It’s a big responsibility,” Spring  said.

Spring, whose works are in homes, galleries and Little Chapel in Divide, painted a mural on an entry wall at Woodland Park Walmart and is included in the photos with Sterkel and Walmart Coach Travis Seifert.

For high school students, the categories are oils, acrylics, watercolors, drawing, mixed media, digital design, photography and 3-D.  The cash prizes for the first three winners in each category are $100, $75 and $50. For Best of Show, the winner receives $100.

Students from schools, including home schoolers in Teller County and Lake George in Park County are eligible to enter.

Students are asked to bring their works, with the application form, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. April 10 on the lower level of the Woodland Park library. The awards presentation is at 5 p.m. April 18 at the library.  For information and the application, go to studentshow@mountainartists.org.  The organization’s website is TheMountainArtists.org.

On another note, the Mountain Artists seek applicants from graduating high school seniors going on to study visual arts to receive the Virginia Shippey Scholarship. Details are at https://www.mtnartists.com/programs/training-courses-c7c95.