The "I Am Texas" contest invites students from across Texas  and other states who love Texas to share their personal stories and artistic interpretations that reflect their experiences and connections to the Lone Star State. Through this platform, young writers and artists contribute to preserving and celebrating Texas's rich cultural heritage.

​We are incredibly proud to announce that three of our talented young artists--Iris, Sophia, and Albert—have been selected as semi-finalists in the 20245 I Am Texas Art Contest. This prestigious competition celebrates Texas heritage through the eyes of its youngest citizens, and these students have risen to the challenge with creativity, research, and heart.

​In the world of children’s art, color speaks louder than words. From the trauma of war to the healing power of love, these young artists shared powerful messages through paint, pencil, and imagination. 

1. Colors After the War

​Artist Statement:
The rainbow covers the war. It’s scary, but we can smile again. The flowers are happy, and my friends are here. I hope peace comes.

2. Left and Right, Together

​Artist Statement:
Sometimes people fight about left and right. But I think both sides can live in the same world like yin and yang.

Roots of Hope

​Artist Statement:
Even if the ground is broken, the tree still grows. The flowers come out from dark places. I believe nature is strong.

​4. We Hold the Future

​Artist Statement:
Our hands are holding Earth. One side is dark and the other is bright. We can choose to care, and make the world happy again.

5. Fixing the Past

​Artist Statement:
I imagine healing broken people with care and study. The cracks don’t mean the end. We can learn, and help others feel whole again.

6. Falling Star

​Artist Statement:
The starfish is falling from the city into a dirty ocean. I want people to stop hurting nature before everything beautiful is lost.

7. Key to the Heart

​Artist Statement:
Love can unlock a broken heart. If we share kindness and care, the world will be a better place. That’s what I want to do.

These works remind us that children see the world clearly—often with a mix of sorrow and hope. Their ability to imagine healing, connection, and peace through visual storytelling is powerful and moving. We can learn much from listening to the youngest voices among us.

​Sophia Liu began studying painting in earnest in February 2023.
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Looking at her early works, she already had the ability to handle delicate lines, and in particular, she was very good at utilizing negative space, that is, the space between the subject and the background.
This is evidence that she already had a basic sense of depth and visual balance in observing objects, and it was very impressive that she had a good foundation for developing her artistic expression.

However, at the same time, some areas that needed improvement were clearly revealed.
In particular, she was somewhat hesitant in expressing the relationship between light and shadow, that is, the expression of light and shade that creates a sense of three-dimensionality,
and she was somewhat cautious in expressing the presence of objects through the contrast of color and brightness.
In addition, she lacked the boldness or free movement of her **brush strokes**, which showed the need to increase her confidence and freedom of interpretation.

Based on this analysis, we focused on Sophia's delicate and structural sense, and on creative training that allowed her to expand her own interpretation and expression, while also focusing on the principles of light and shadow, bold touches, and creative training.
In the class, we guided her to grow into a more flexible and expressive artist through various practices such as expressing three-dimensional still lifes, depicting light and shade under various light sources, and completing drawings in a short period of time.

Sophia is very sincere and focused during the training process, and has an excellent ability to quickly understand and internalize the pointed parts.

​Successfully, Sophia entered the Save the Frogs competition with her unique imagination and artistic sensibility, and was honored with the **Semi-Finalist** award.
This was more than just an award; it was a valuable experience that showed her ability to express her perspective and emotions in her work, and to interpret and express the theme of the environment in her own way.

If you look closely at the work, you will see that it is not simply a depiction of a frog, but rather, a love for nature and life, and a pure desire to protect small creatures.

Sophia expanded the theme of the competition with her own imagination,
delicately expressing the habitat of frogs, the ecosystem within it, and even the relationship between humans and nature.

What is most impressive is that her paintings contain personal emotions and messages.

All elements, such as the change in color in the painting, the composition of the background, and the expression and position of the frog,
are used as symbolic language that reflects Sophia’s inner world beyond simple observation.

Through these works, we can see that Sophia is not only growing in technical terms, but also taking steps forward as an expresser who connects her thoughts and emotions with art.

​Since then, Sophia has gradually developed from simply drawing shapes to incorporating ‘her own voice’ into her paintings.

She continued to train herself to organize her thoughts, emotions, and gazes into a single visual language through color, composition, and symbolic elements,
and this process became a clear signal that Sophia was moving beyond simple techniques to the art of self-expression.

As a result of such growth, she entered the Shinhan Poster Card Contest and achieved the great feat of **Honorable Mention**.

This contest was not a simple art competition, but centered around the very challenging topic of **‘What role can art play in the era of artificial intelligence?**,
and participants were required to demonstrate creativity, critical thinking, and original interpretation.

Rather than simply expressing this topic as a fantasy about future technology, Sophia seriously explored
what meaning human emotions, thoughts, and imagination have for art even in the era of AI. Her paintings reflect a balance between technological future and emotional humanity, and as always, her own perspective and sound are at the center of it all.

This award confirms that Sophia is now gradually gaining understanding and interpretation of the subject, and the ability to express it based on her own aesthetic perspective.

​Sophia's rich imagination and outstanding artistic potential can be easily seen from the outstanding awards she has received in various competitions she has participated in.

She not only has excellent drawing skills,
but also the power to create new themes with her own interpretation, and the ability to visualize those imaginary worlds into concrete images.

As a representative example, she participated in the Young Illustrators Contest held in Long Island in 2023,
and won second place with a work on the theme of 'circus'.

The theme of 'circus' is a symbolic material that can have various meanings for both children and adults,
but Sophia did not consume it as a simple interest,
but worked to interpret the emotions, movements, colors, and rhythms of the circus with her own perspective.

Her paintings were full of glamour, dynamism, and even the quiet tension behind the scenes, and all of these elements combined to make the audience feel that they were not just ‘paintings’, but ‘scenes’ where the story was alive and breathing.
This expressiveness is clear evidence that goes beyond her ability as a student who simply listens attentively in class,
and that she has the potential to grow as an artist in the future and the depth of her imagination.

Sophia always has the ability to interpret the world with her own colors and perspectives,
and to express it in unique images.
I look forward to seeing what kind of world her next work will unfold.

Recently, Sophia participated in the Celebrating Art Publication Contest, and achieved the great result of having her painting selected as a **publication**.

This contest is not just about winning, but is a meaningful contest that only publishes the works of students with outstanding artistic talent and perfection among the youths with artistic talent across the country.

Therefore, the publication result is an important signal that Sophia's paintings have been recognized on a public art platform.

The painting she submitted this time is a work that stands out for its realistic expression,
especially the delicate skills of observing and describing the three-dimensionality, contrast of light and shade, and the texture of objects.

The moment you look at the painting, you get a vivid feeling as if you are directly facing the real thing,
and you can see how exquisitely trained her observation and expressive powers are.

What is most impressive is that this painting shows a remarkable improvement compared to her early works. When she first started learning to draw, she showed strengths in negative space and line expression, but was somewhat immature in the concepts of light and shadow, spatial sense, and material expression.
However, in this work, such weaknesses have been completely overcome,
and rather, she has reached a level where she can creatively interpret the relationship between light and darkness and add depth to the screen.

This development is not simply the result of hard training, but rather,
it can be seen as an inner growth that occurred in the process of understanding and accepting the language of art with her own perspective.
Sophia is no longer a student simply practicing art skills,
but is taking a step further as an expresser who puts her own perspective and sensibility into her work.
I am very much looking forward to the next stage of artistic leap that she will show in the future.

Cindy’s Artistic Journey – A Record of Growth Rooted in PassionCindy began studying art formally in February 2023.
Although her journey started not long ago, it was filled with sincere passion and determination from the very beginning.
Her love for drawing extended beyond a casual interest—she carried a strong desire to learn, grow, and express herself through art.
Even in her first artwork, Cindy’s deep affection for artistic expression was clearly visible.
From the focused movement of her brush to the careful selection of colors, her work reflected the excitement of creating something meaningful.
Her drawings conveyed warmth and honesty, revealing the joy she found in every stroke.

Training Focus: Color, Space, and Composition

​From the beginning, it was clear that Cindy had a natural sense for conveying feeling and narrative through her art.
To support her development as a well-rounded artist, we chose to focus her training on three key areas:
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handling, spatial awareness, and compositional structure.
Cindy demonstrated a sensitive approach to color, but at times relied too heavily on instinct.
We worked together on understanding value and chroma, using complementary and analogous colors, and developing an awareness of how color choices can shape emotional tone.
SpaceCindy initially created rather flat compositions, but gradually developed an understanding of perspective and visual flow.
Through practice, she began to build depth in her images and considered how to guide the viewer's eye through the picture.
CompositionBecause Cindy had a strong storytelling instinct, she was encouraged to think about what elements to emphasize and how to balance them within a frame.
She began learning how to compose scenes with intention, moving beyond image-making into more thoughtful visual storytelling.

A Seed of Growth

​Art is a journey that deepens over time.
Although Cindy is at the beginning of hers, her dedication and curiosity already point toward promising growth.
In every lesson, she welcomes new challenges, embraces mistakes as part of the process, and continues to expand her expressive vocabulary.
Watching her progress is a meaningful reminder of what it means to grow through art.
We look forward to seeing how her perspective continues to develop and how she will share her voice with the world through her creative work.

​In 2024, she won second place in the National Fish Art Contest alongside Olivia.

​2023, 2024 Save the Frogs Art Contest Winners Honorable Mansion

2024 Save the frogs art contest

In 2025, she received an Honorable Mention in the National Wind Energy Art Contest.
This recognition highlights her continued growth as a young artist and her ability to creatively interpret environmental themes.
Her work stood out among many entries, showing both artistic skill and a deep sense of imagination.

​In 2023, she was awarded the Grand Prize in the Picasso Art International Contest.
This prestigious award recognized the originality, technical strength, and emotional depth of her work.
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It marked a significant milestone in her artistic journey and further fueled her passion for creative expression.

​Cindy’s artistic journey has been marked by remarkable growth, passion, and dedication.
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Her accomplishments—including a Grand Prize in the Picasso Art International Contest, second place in the National Fish Art Contest, and an Honorable Mention in the 2025 National Wind Energy Art Contest—reflect both her skill and creative spirit.
She consistently demonstrates the ability to express complex ideas through thoughtful composition, color, and imagination.
As she continues to explore and refine her artistic voice, she is building a strong foundation for a promising future.
With continued support and the right opportunities, Cindy is sure to flourish as a confident and inspiring young artist.

​America's Field Trip is a nationwide student competition hosted by America250 that commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and gives students the opportunity to express their thoughts on the topic, "What is America?" through artwork or essays.

​Participating in contests like this isn’t only about making beautiful art—it’s an opportunity for intellectual growth, emotional expression, and civic engagement. Here's what students gain from this experience:

This contest is a rich opportunity for students—not just those interested in art, but anyone who wants to think deeply, create boldly, and reflect meaningfully on their identity and values.
Art becomes more than decoration. It becomes a voice. And that voice matters.

When preparing students for high-level art contests or creativity-based competitions, it’s important to understand that success goes far beyond just being able to draw well. These competitions require students to think deeply, express unique perspectives, and translate abstract ideas into visual language. To help students succeed, educators must offer multiple pathways for brainstorming and encourage an environment that supports free thinking, experimentation, and exploration.

The first step is to introduce quality examples and references. Visual inspiration through samples—whether past contest winners or master artists—can spark imagination and guide students to think critically about composition, theme, symbolism, and color. These examples are not for imitation but serve as visual prompts that broaden students’ perspective and inspire their own creative responses.

Next, it’s essential to create a safe and supportive space for discussion. Many students hesitate to share their thoughts out loud, fearing they might be "wrong" or "not creative enough." A teacher's role here is to listen attentively, validate ideas, and guide students to explore further with thoughtful, open-ended questions. Encouraging students to freely express their opinions leads to rich brainstorming sessions where ideas are layered and evolved collaboratively.
Once ideas have surfaced, the educator helps students organize and deepen their concepts. This might involve providing reference images, guiding symbols, or creative prompts that support conceptual development. These tools function like pieces of a collage—visual elements that students can combine and transform into a final piece that’s truly their own.

Equally important is expanding the range of materials and techniques available to students. Moving beyond traditional sketching and painting, students are encouraged to explore collage, air-dry clay, cellulose-based paper, washi tape, recycled materials, and other engaging formats. Introducing new textures and forms boosts curiosity and leads to unexpected, creative solutions.

In this process, the emphasis is not just on producing a final artwork, but on the act of exploration itself. Students learn to visualize their ideas, respond to materials, and craft their own visual narratives. Brainstorming, remixing, and layering ideas allows them to build a visual language that is both personal and meaningful.
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Ultimately, this approach nurtures not only artistic skill, but also critical thinking, emotional expression, problem-solving, and storytelling. It transforms contest preparation into a deeply rewarding educational experience that empowers students to see art not just as a task, but as a tool for discovery and identity.