By Misty DUPLESSIS

On Friday, four winners of the inaugural La Crescenta Library Community Art Contest experienced what it was like to host an art exhibit.

Students from Crescenta Valley and Clark Magnet high schools shared their creativity with locals while giving back to the community by donating proceeds of any art sales to the library.

The young artists all brought their unique styles and different inspirations to the show.

First-place winner Heather Strong was encouraged to enter the contest when her mother saw a flyer promoting it. Since Strong has enjoyed art from an early age, the contest was a perfect chance for her to paint those things that inspire her. Strong hopes to continue to paint more oil paintings in a classical way.

When Rachel Lim creates her artwork, she bases it on the feelings she has at the moment, which results in pictures depicting a variety of shapes and colors. The CV art student plans to pursue a career in art with her next step being to attend an art college in Pasadena.

Ainsley Dye’s attention to positioning and lighting in her photograph submission earned her a winning spot in this contest. With an interested buyer at the exhibit, Dye modestly admitted that the idea of someone wanting to buy her creation was “weird” to her.

She looks to nature for ideas for her creations and said that she is also influenced by artist/writer/director Tim Burton.

The parents of Grace Poole have played a large part in the discovery of her artistic ability. Having met when they attended art college, her parents are also artistic and have been very supportive of her creative endeavors.

“I’m really blessed to have parents that encourage me that much,” said Poole of her parents’ involvement.

Poole uses bright colors in her work and often finds herself being motivated by her favorite band My Chemical Romance. Poole sees the band as being representative of doing what you love and she translates that through her paintings.

The winning artwork will remain on exhibit in the library through Saturday.

Though this was the first year of the contest, Library Community Manager Marta Wiggins hopes to expose more students to the experience by hosting an annual contest.

Wiggins found each student to be imaginative in their own way.

“[I was] amazed and blown away by their stuff completely,” she said, adding that each of the artists have the talent to have a future in art.

  MISTY DUPLESSIS