"Aunt Linda's Back Yard" by Maylee Martin

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce

Artist statement: My great aunt inspired me to create this piece. She's moving out of the house soon, and my whole family and I have so many great memories in that house. I wanted to paint this piece as a gift to her and a memory of her home. There were many great photos to choose from, but I chose this one because I felt like her backyard was the focal point of the house, and the place that held the most memories.

"Silent Waves" by Maylee Martin

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce

Artist statement: This painting was created as a class assignment, however, I wanted it to be something that resonated with me, and I wanted it to be something that was interesting to me. To create this piece, I used acrylic paints as my medium. The tools I used include a medium flat brush, a mop brush, a small flat brush, a small round brush, and a small linear brush to create the finer details in my piece.

"Brown Bear" by Lillian Sheppard

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce.

Artist statement: For this piece, I used a photo of a bear from the internet as a reference. I then used only watercolors to experiment with using many layers of thin washes to build up pigment and show off the white of the paper as my only source of highlights and paler values in the piece.

"Red Velvet" by Lillian Sheppard

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce

Artist statement: I was inspired to make this piece when looking at a cake I had made. I wanted to experiment with how all of the colors and shades that  I saw when looking at it were made of black, white, cyan, magenta, and yellow, so I took a photo of the cake and made a painting of it using only those colors.

"Bumblebee" by Lillian Sheppard

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce

Artist statement: For my painting, I used a drawing of a bee as my reference photo for the general outline and some of the values in my piece.  For this piece, I was inspired by all of the different colors found in black and wanted to use a mixture of mediums to experiment with the power of color when incorporating light, texture, and depth into a 2d piece.

"Flying Through Fire" by Lukas Holmer

10th Grade, Lynnwood High School

Teacher: Donna Schou

Artist statement: I was at my friend's cabin and had brought along my camera to shoot some cool pictures. Little did I know that there would be a raging fire spreading across the mountains at a rapid pace. This gave me the opportunity to shoot pictures of the planes, and their efforts to help put the fire out. I then later edited my photos in Adobe Lightroom and picked out my favorite ones.

"A Moment in Bloom" by Tam Dao

10th Grade, Lynnwood High School

Teacher: Donna Schou

Artist statement: My father has many flowers in the house and since I was a little kid I always thought that they were a waste of space. But growing up I notice that the flower actually makes up the surroundings and the beauty that it brings in my house. Which is why I started to take pictures of the flowers, even if it is not that abstract or real, It's a part of my life and household.

"Golden Stack" by Tyler Camp

9th Grade, Lynnwood High School

Teacher: Donna Schou

Artist statement: During a trip around the Olympic Peninsula, I stopped by Ruby Beach during sunset hours not knowing this sea stack would have such beautiful lighting behind and around it. After I took it and got home, I adjusted lighting and colors using Adobe Lightroom.

"Velvet Crown" by Tyler Camp

9th Grade, Lynnwood High School

Teacher: Donna Schou

Artist statement: I took this photo on a small two-foot wide trail on a steep mountainside. Originally I was taking photos from a distance of more than 20 feet before the deer approached  me and ended up crossing the path behind me right after I took this photo. Afterwards, I re-adjusted some shadows, lighting, and colors in Adobe Lightroom.

"Something soft remains" by Amira Al Mayyahi

9th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: While creating this piece, I felt unsure if I was doing enough, but I continued working through that uncertainty. I wanted to capture a gentle feeling, where movement slows and emotion lingers softly. Through flowing lines and soft color, I aimed to create a sense of calm, warmth, and quiet. References were used to help guide the pose and anatomy, but the character, design, and idea are my own

"Holding Hands and Life Was Perfect" by Roman Alaniz

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I was inspired by My Chemical Romance's song- Early Sunsets Over Monroeville. It represents the feeling of perfection and new life that a relationship can bring you. I painted this piece using acrylic.

"My View" by Lylla Ashe

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The major idea of my art work is it's a view from my window of Sauk Mt. at sundown. I also added the river that flows through our town.

"Sunny Daze" by Anneliese Ballou

12th Grade, Snohomish High School

Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

Artist statement: For this photograph I was inspired by all of the people living their own lives. When I saw these three serious looking people in front of a funny mural it inspired me. I really liked the juxtaposition of the people and the background along with the bright colors. My passion is photography. I took this photo with a Canon digital camera and I edited it in Adobe Lightroom.

"Winter Wish" by Jack Huddleston

11th Grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: My teacher Mrs. Mallory inspired me. The tools that I used was only a camera. The props that I used were lights, an old camera, and fake snow. I laid out the fake snow onto the camera and took a downward facing shot.

"Yapping All Day Long" by Kyra Jacobs

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School.

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: The Idea of someone talking all day and all night on the phone. I thought the idea was funny, So I went along with it. The process was fast and easy, at first I couldn't focus because it looked unnatural to me, and then out of no where, I got all my focus back on it and finished in one night. The tools I used for this was a soft egg brush and opaque erase brush. The text was just the normal text.

"West Beach" by Sunny McInnis

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School.

Teacher: Kit Christopherson.

Artist statement: I have a lot of focus on the absurd feeling of hope within my art. With this one, I really felt that the connection between my antsy and free dog being in front of the light showed the unshackled feeling that everything will one day be alright. With this piece I went totally by myself with color picking, I challenged myself to create my own colors based on my reference. I used Clip Studio Paint.

"OctoGirl" by SaMari Davis

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson.

Artist statement: The process for this piece is that I wanted to make a human-like creature, but still keep the anima features very present, so I blended the two to make her. The tools I used are a brush I created to paint the overall body and head, when i finshed the painting i duplicated the figure and changed the colors to look like the poisonous/warning colors of nature and placed them over each other.

"Stories Coming to Life" by Kyra Jacobs

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: The love trope of a Jester and Princess is what mostly inspired me, since I have always been a big fan of that trope. I can't say there was a specific song, art, or idea that inspired me the most, I tend to think of this by myself since I have a lot of free time. For the digital process, This piece was created on Procreate. Tools I had used was smooth brushes that can create a slight pencil look.

"Illusion" by Miyabi Leelaphisut

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I was inspired by the jellyfish species Pelagia Noctiluca and the chrysaora quinquecirrha. I wanted to invoke this feeling of wandering and calming luminous light in the darkness of the deep sea, using swirls and spirals to represent confusion as she drifts through the quiet sea. I used Krita and experimented more with different types of brushes to get the feelings I wanted.

"Ballad #4" by Jaira Dee Dones

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: This whole piece was loosely inspired by a photo my photographer friend had taken of me during a half-time performance during the ballad portion of the show. I intended to capture the serenity and flow of this specific movement, which I learned to do by reducing the amount of detail and focusing more on how it feels from afar. I used procreate to sketch, render, and eventually upload my piece.

"King Shybie" by Harlee Francesconi

12th Grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Patricia Francesconi

Artist statement: I wanted to represent a young boy that had been through many adversities already at such a young age. The boy has earned his crown for his bravery yet is not entirely happy because of what he had to go through to get to this point in his life. I struggled with the background and had to learn about color theory and lighting so that it looked like he was in the woods. I would redo the background.

"Independent Living" by Alex Olson, 12th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: Exposing the Independent Living classes work and what they do (for the yearbook). We use Adobe Bridge to retrieve images and Adobe Illustrator for page design.

"My Broken Name" by Ameerah Frisinger

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: My name is in both Hebrew and Arabic on opposite ends of a banner symbolizing my conflicting heritage and ties to warring people of the Holy Land. Two hands are splitting apart my face, revealing the vulnerability that comes with reconnecting to the past, and grasping for a harmonized future. There is hope for reconciling my broken name.

"Nuances of Feline Silence" by Anghella Leon Rios

10th Grade, Burlington-Edison High School

Teacher: Suzanne McLelland

Artist statement: I used a copyright-free Pexels image, starting with a graphite sketch for the silhouette. I meticulously layered black charcoal, beginning with hyper-realistic eyes before detailing the face, ears, and body. Finally, I added intricate fur highlights using white chalk. This step-by-step process was a technical challenge that became a deeply relaxing and joyful journey into feline expression.

"Trampoline Times" by Olive Furber

10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: Childhood memories inspired me in a place I often visited — a trampoline. This piece offers an abstract perspective on the fear of passing time and how aging's dullness can affect my memories. To create it, I used colored pencils and dark-hued magazine clippings to express deep emotion. I applied glue and paint to darken the colors and amplify the sense of fear.

"The Karma of Kindness" by Eli Kinkel

11th Grade, Burlington-Edison High School

Teacher: Suzanne McLelland

Artist statement: What inspired me to create this piece was the word karma, i interpret this as a name and as something that can happen to you.  Karma can surprise you and karma can make you sad that is the mood i have created for this piece they contrast in such a meaningful way.

"C Flat" by Harlee Francesconi

12th Grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Jennifer Holcombe

Artist statement: I began playing clarinet in middle school when I needed to choose an instrument I was inspired by my mother who also played clarinet.  When I showed interest, my mother gifted me her antique clarinet which I learned to play and fell in love with.

"Broken Reflection" by Violette Harris

10th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: I have always loved to portray character development.  In a pilgrim town, there is a lot of suspicion. When a person is always told they are one thing, they can start to believe it's true. The shattered reflection represents what the character is perceived to be like, and also foreshadows what she could become if she goes along with it. It also represents her broken self-image because of this.

"Sprout" by Morgan Kleppang

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I was inspired by a channel I used to watch as a kid. Sprout was a channel owned by PBS. The most important thing I learned from this piece was to not be so hard on myself, because I ended up really liking how it had turned out. If I were to redo the piece, I’d probably paint it in watercolor.

"Overgrown" by Sarina Randolph

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I was inspired to create "Overgrown" to explore hair, because it's a huge part of identity. Unlike my siblings, mine was always wavier and curlier, so it took a long time to learn to care for my hair and accept myself as I was. This piece allowed me to have fun blending strands into swirling patterns, over the paper's bumpy texture. My hair will never be silky straight and that's wonderful.

"whispers behind the fan" by Nohea Kelley

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I really enjoy drawing photos with graphite of meaningful memories. Especially ones when I was little.

"Snow day" by Nohea Kelley

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I really liked looking back on photos of me and my cousins when we were little since it has a lot of good memories behind it. I used a lot of pencil and a tiny bit of charcoal to create this piece.

"Highs and Lows" by Jasper Mahn

10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson.

Artist statement: I believe that joy is one of the most important things in life. Inspired by this idea, I focused my piece on how I find joy through hard-earned accomplishment. I used the imagery of two climbers on a mountain for both the symbolism of struggle and the direct connection to my own life, representing my love of hiking, not only for the beauty of nature, but also for the fulfillment of struggle.

"Cake Cups" by Sarah Pearson

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I found the image of the Cake Cups on Unsplash uploaded by Fumiaki Hayashi. I chose this photo because of the way the glass was illuminated, the glow makes the food so much more delicious and I wanted to capture that.

"Still Lamp" by Reign Harris

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor.

Artist statement: How I came up with this idea is actually a very funny story. I was in my art class and we were doing still life's. I had never done a still life before so I was a little nervous I was going to draw something terrible. I drew everything on the plate and called it good. My teacher came over and asked me if I could anymore. So I looked at the shape I drew, and it came to me. I made it into a lamp.

"The Boiler-Cap" by Cole Williamson

9th Grade, Cavelero Mid High School (Lake Stevens)

Teacher: Kristina Sass

Artist statement: I was inspired by my biology class where we went into depth about climate change. I was outraged at how humanity is destroying the very thing that makes us whole. This is symbolized in the artwork through the visualization of a giant factory MADE from mushrooms harvesting mushrooms. It’s basically a message about how humans are consuming the planet, ruining ourselves and destroying our home.

"Sun and Moon" by Katherine Brett, 11th Grade, Griffin Bay (San Juan Island)

Teacher: River Wylde

Artist statement: This drawing shows how even though the sun and moon are never in the same place, when conditions are right the moon covers the sun in an eclipse and the atmosphere dances and the two share a heart. I drew this to show how the sun and moon can bring light and dark together to create love and harmony.

"Self" by Anna Sluis

12th Grade, Griffin Bay (San Juan Island)

Teacher: River Wylde.

Artist statement: "Self" is a self portrait of me that is showing no expression to anything. Taking from this piece is that this is what I look like on the outside. Minding my business. But no one will ask me what my thoughts or opinions are. Or really talk to me. If they do, they will get to see the real me. No one will ask me what I am, So my face will look like this till someone does.

"Sea Yourself" by Sailor Huntemer

9th Grade, Griffin Bay (San Juan Island)

Teacher: River Wylde

Artist statement: “Sea Yourself ” is about seeing beyond what you look like on the outside, and more who you are as a person and what's in your heart. I am from the coast and to depict that I drew fish that are connected by bull kelp, around me. Additionally, there are waves that are flowing around the page. The waves also have holes in them, that symbolize imperfection.

"Dog and Sword" by Waren Patilla

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson.

Artist statement: Something that inspired me is the painting of Napoleon riding his horse, I really like the dynamic pose so Instead of a horse I put my dog and made him the size of a horse. I did a lot of photo bashing to really get a reference for that pose because I cannot draw a pose like that from the top of my head. For this piece I used graphite pencils.

"Have and Have Not" by Francesca Pignatiello

11th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson.

Artist statement: I was inspired by the increasing homeless population in Washington state and how I feel as an individual with a warm, safe, and locked home. My own family inspired me, in contrast to the many on the street who struggle to find basic needs. I tried to show the safety and comfort I felt when at home, and the stark contrast to the lives that don't resonate with my life and experiences.

"Heaven's House" by Lillianna Frisinger

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: When i first entered this sanctuary it was through those doors at the end of the isle. I wanted to capture the idea of reflecting on the past, the shadows, the bright places and everything in between. I was amazed by the way that the monochromatic qualities of the interior of the sanctuary set off the vibrant stained glass of the windows and autumn leaves outside.

"Goose Berry" by Aspen Gildnes

12th Grade, Burlington-Edison High School

Teacher: Suzanne McLelland

Artist statement: I wanted to make a nice Christmas present for my moms boyfriends parents. I used oil pastels to make this piece of the artwork, the second piece is the same picture but in charcoal. I have only submitted the oil pastel one.

"Night Sky" by Matthew Koss

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: I was thinking of things to make and I thought of it first.

"Ruby" by Sofia Challa

12th Grade, Bellingham High School.

Teacher: Cathy Gersich

Artist statement: This piece really inspired me because of how much I have missed my dog since she’s passed. The all black background represents the grief and loneliness after her death. My red shirt is the color of rubies, as her name is Ruby.

"Lotus Jester" by Katie Harper

12th Grade, Crossroads High School (Granite Falls)

Teacher: Laurie Roughton.

Artist statement: My teacher had shown us images of masks for inspiration, I saw one that had the same theme as the one I made. Immediately I knew that I wanted to create one of my own.  I researched venetian masks to give me more inspiration and I was able to create a mask that I was happy with. I used plaster, paints, fabric, wire, ribbon, and more to create it.

"A Thousand Prayers Back" by Brenda Garfias-Pamatz, 10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: What inspired me was the connection my family has through religion. The saint I chose is one I grew up praying to, and the collage represents my family at church events, highlighting how this connection affects me.

"Origins" by Hazel Leighton

10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: My work is focused on the duality of growing older and the pain of losing connection to who I was as a child. I explore themes of confinement, rebirth, and unseen possibilities in my pieces. I analyze patterns throughout my life and wonder about what has shaped me into who I am today. Linoleum prints and pastels allow me to add depth and repetition in my pieces.

"Nowhere" by Rylie Wilber

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: Use your creativity and it's never a mistake.

"Clear Illusion" by April Whidden

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: Scenery in its purest form without tampered colors, no buildings, and in the form of shapes.

"Idiosyncracy" by Remington Pritchard

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: (The artistic problem that lies at the heart of this work) is making 2D forms appear to turn 3D at the center of the page. I would use watercolor instead of colored pencils to achieve a vibrant effect. (The most important thing I learned) is you can't use, and shouldn't use, too much 6B pencil; it will make the work sloppy.

"Swimming Through the Curves" by Grace Petosa

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The major idea of the artwork is how light reflects on curves. If I could do this piece again I would make the lines of white closer together.

"Within The Procession" by Sarina Randolph

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: "Within The Procession", represents my relationship with my heritage as someone who's hafu and Uchinanchu. After visiting my family in Okinawa, I felt inspired to capture the beauty of our culture. I used a fish eye perspective and acrylic over pastel to show that even dressed in the same ryusou and hanagasa as everyone else, I will never fit in. Together we march over the bridge between cultures.

"Wired Society" by Bill Coronado

11th Grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Jennifer Holcombe

Artist statement: Honestly I wanted to make something that had a deep topic about. I made it about someone trapped inside of the devices to symbolize how we as a society, are so connected to our devices all the time that we're trapped inside of them and I wanted to represent that by putting the person inside of the devices in my piece. It has wires which leads to the title Wired Society.

"Blood Bonds" by Jasper Mahn

10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: This piece developed from my inquiry into what happiness means to me and how it is shaped by relationships. As my focus evolved toward the influence of family and friends, I studied anatomical heart photos for visual inspiration, using the heart as a symbol of identity, emotional connection, and the support systems that shape who I am.

"Muddled" by Olivia Zawoysky

10th Grade, Bellingham High School

Teacher: Catherine Gersich

Artist statement: The main thing that inspired me was how fascinating people's minds work, depending on the outside factors in their life, I made her skin paler as to contrast her extremely colorful and loud background. I found a picture similar to the woman online, but I made her look more like how I imagined a character in my favorite book.

"Folk Squirrel" by Kaitlin Cellona

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: This piece was inspired by masks throughout history. I wanted to use this piece as a way to convey nature and how you cannot control it. I took an unassuming animal (a squirrel) and tried to make it invoke a sense of fear.

"The Preservation of Romanticism" by Kaitlin Cellona

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: This piece was inspired by the writings of Thoreu. I wanted to symbolize the contrast between romantic ideals and the all consuming nature of modern technology.

"Social Divide" by Kaitlin Cellona

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: This piece was inspired by the social divide that conformity and authenticity create. I wanted to represent the the power dynamic between these two social concepts. The doves represent conformity and are seen as pure, while authenticity is represented as the pigeons. I played with the history of pigeons, and how they are seen as vermin after being discarded.

"Unrestricted Childhood Creativity" by Kaitlin Cellona

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: This piece was inspired by the difference in self expression we face while we grow older. I wanted this piece to capture that youthful wonder and ignorance in a light and comforting way. I wanted to portray this topic because when I am expressing myself authentically, I am still the same person I was when I was younger and filled with less fear.

"Self-Portrait" by Lily Johnston

10th Grade, Concrete High School.

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: A representation of myself, I may not be a forseeable future for many, but I do hope to see an amazed face soon.

"Adrift Amity" by Norah Leighton

12th Grade, Friday Harbor School District

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: I was inspired by how specifically during summertime friendships seem to flourish and thrive as a child. Yet as you get older, you get jobs, responsibilities, and begin to lose that zeal you once harbored as a child. With these interruptions, friendships seem to grow weak and distant as well. I wanted to portray this contrast between childhood and young adulthood, and the devastation of this loss.

"Up Close and Far Away: Jackson Tattooed" by Jasper Christopherson

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: What inspired me through the process of this piece was my art teacher and the numerous friends I have lost from military transfer growing up in a military town, and through this piece, I hope to honor my friends who have moved away and represent others who have faced this struggle. I used a colored pencil to create a detailed original, and then printed my work out and overlaid it with inks. 

"Growth" by Lyla Frohm

11th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson.

Artist statement: I was inspired by how the connections I have can change my character. I wanted to create a piece about my mom and her influences from a young age to the present. I used charcoals for portraits, and then paints for flowers and jellyprints. I used pressed flowers to represent growth. I used mixed media to contrast BnW and color, showing imagination vrs reality, and how my creativity grows with time.

"Meadow's Peace" by Kalia Ratliff

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: My uncle has a wildlife rehabilitation center, so all sorts of animals come to visit his backyard. But one that captures my eye in particular everytime are the bees, who swarm his lavender plants and love to collect nectar from them. I really wanted to capture the softness and aesthetic beauty of these creatures against the floral landscape, so I waited to take the perfect photo.

"The Power We Hold" by Kalia Ratliff

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: I took this photograph as an assignment for class and I fell in love with the colors of the B&W. The pose that my model was doing looked really cool, and the shape of his figure coming through the cloth is really ominous and unique. I loved playing around with this photo in editing, using contrast as my guide. I took it using a Canon Rebel T7.

"Cider's Lifetime" by Kalia Ratliff

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: I took this photograph of my grandmas dog, Cider, who she had recently gotten. Cider is always such a joyful dog, and I loved getting to reflect that in my work. While walking Cider, I managed to take a few photos of her while at the park. It was such a happy moment for the both of us. I used my Canon 70D to capture the moment.

"Bug Catcher" by Maxine Cota

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I was inspired by a glass painting that one of my peers did. I used a Canon mirrorless camera and Lightroom Classic to create my photo.

"Perspective of Life" by Kalia Ratliff

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: Every year for my birthday, me and my family go to the zoo. I've enjoyed getting to see new animals everytime, but what caught my eye most recently was the gardens inside the zoo. There were flowers of every shape and kind, and the bees created a pretty contrast with the bright colors that surround the place. It was such a fun way to celebrate the smaller animals that often don't get recognition.

"Tree of Life" by Abigail Savage

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I love taking pictures in nature every time I go out, so much that my friends leave me behind while we hike because I stop to take pictures of mushrooms and plants. But this picture was definitely a little strange, while looking for a specific mushroom I found while hiking, I looked up to see a bone placed in the tree, far from where hikers normally are. It was definitely an anomaly in the woods.

"Visitor" by Cole Seery

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I was driving around a random neighborhood in Everett when I stumbled into this coyote. I really liked the contrast of a wild animal being surrounded by human made structures or buildings. I also have always found it interesting how wildlife, like coyotes, seem to adapt and thrive in urban areas or cities. For this photograph I used a Panasonic Lumix digital camera.

"Champion" by Lucy Choyke

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I myself am a wrestler for my school's Girls Wrestling Program, and I am consistently blown away by the women on my team. This photo was captured at a Double Duel where we demolished the other teams. The girls on my team inspired me to bring my camera to capture photos like this one. This photo comes from a loss for the other team (the girl in the foreground) and a exciting win for our girl, Kate.

"Sunrise Mountain" by Grayson Michl, 12th grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: I saw Mount Rainier and thought, wow what a cool looking thing to take a photo of.

"Foggy Fall Walk" by Kalum Cruze

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: This photograph explores the idea of quiet progress and reflection. The upward path through the foggy forest represents growth that happens slowly and without certainty. By focusing on natural light, muted colors, and empty space, the image invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the journey rather than the destination.

"Reflected World" by Ananya Raichura

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I was inspired by how climate change is often ignored and how human intervention, especially urbanization, can seem appealing while quietly harming nature. I used a human made bubble on a leaf to show this contrast. The colorful reflection may look beautiful, but it represents a distorted perception of human impact that slowly damages the natural world.

"The Sixth Element" by Parasmai Sharma

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: My work is fundamentally inspired by previous photos I have taken. I am drawn to exploring the ideas of the unknown in my art. When creating my pieces, I often begin by doing research and acquiring the tools I need to complete the project. The process then evolves into taking the actual photos, which ends up taking the most amount of time. After the photos have been taken, I edit with Lightroom.

"Roll of a Lifetime" by Aashrith Hannurkar

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: What inspired me was the dramatic and intense feeling of a dice roll. The lip-quivering feeling of not knowing what the outcome of this one roll could be. One roll could either dictate a great future, or a spot reserved in a state of loss. The close up perspective shows the contrast and dramatic lighting, showing the chaotic spin of the dice against the board.

"Beach View" by Peyton Hanson

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I was at the beach with my friends this summer, and I wanted to take a picture while I was standing on the dock. I edited it a little for the colors in the sky to be more contrasting of the white beach house.

"Nostalgia" by Caleb Denson

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: I used several old cameras to get the right one I wanted; I wanted to really capture the feeling of being old and remembering what life and items were like when you were younger.

"Overgrown cliff" by Harsh Rana

11th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory.

Artist statement: What inspired me was my own interest for nature, especially when its gloomy and quiet; people seemed to be repelled by these attributes, but I want to show people that there's more to Washington's gloomy weather.

"Phone Addiction" by Ellie Rook

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: What inspired me to take this photo was to show how having a phone addiction can make the rest of the world melt away. Having an addiction to social media/phone usage is very prevalent in our society and causes a lot of harm. To take the photo I used a digital camera and only used the light coming from the phone. I edited it using Lightroom Classic.

"sun beams" by Tenasyn Pacini

12th grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Christa Mallory

Artist statement: I was at the Olympic National Park and we were hiking to the beach. I took a moment to look up and the sun beamed down so beautifully. I was hoping the picture would be able to capture what it looked like from my eyes. And it ended up being better then I was expecting. It captures Washington so well and the sun mixed with the fog work together so well.

"girl I've always been" by Madison Lord

11th grade, Marysville Getchell High School

Teacher: Cathleen Pettelle-Price.

Artist statement: My own journey through life and mental health is what has inspired me. I use a Canon EOS R50 and edit in Snapseed. I like to bring truth and emotion to my art. I love being able to make something beautiful, poetic, and melancholy.

"Hysteria" by Elio Pintler

10th grade, Mountlake Terrace High School

Teacher: Nichole Mohs

Artist statement: This piece was inspired by a photoshoot done with Robert Pattinson and GQ Magazine, one of the shots is him standing at a sink, bleaching his hair, and the lighting really inspired me. I struggle with body dysmorphia, like many teenage girls do, and wanted to take a piece that represents how it feels to go through general life hyper aware of every pimple, crooked tooth, cracked nail, and bruise.

"Lights of the Town" by Jeremiah Statler

9th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen

Artist statement: I saw the statue with great lighting around it with fairy lights in the trees around it and the darkness of the night provided a nice background to help boost the color of the light bokeh. The lights also helped show the bronze and give a nice hue to the statue. I feel like it helps show Oak Harbor's history before the town with the statue being called "Island Spirit" to show Native Americans.

"Blue Light" by Madison Trigg

12th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen

Artist statement: This photo was taken during Christmas time, when my dad usually takes out the porch light bulbs and replaces them with colored ones. The color and contrast of the lighting, as it was taken at night, inspired me because of the bright color and detail. I loved being able to zoom in close enough that I might even confuse the viewer and make someone question what they are looking at.

"Suspended Will" by Cayson Evans

12th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen.

Artist statement: The work captures moments where physical effort becomes emotional expression. Wrestling demands trust, precision, and vulnerability, persevering in the instant when both athletes share responsibility for the outcome.

"Pinned by Momentum" by Levi Evans

12th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen

Artist statement: The crowd was absolutely insane and by far the loudest it's ever been. From the beginning of the fight, Elijah was dominating his opponent, and they got really close to me. His opponent looks helpless and exhausted, so I made it more dramatic by using Lightroom's Adobe monochrome color profile. There were a bunch of distractions, so I removed them.

"Reflections of a Gentle Soul" by Kady McCrae

11th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen.

Artist statement: I was inspired by how much emotion you can see an interpret through a horses eye, my goal was to capture that but also include what that eye and emotion is reflecting.

"Stillness in Three" by Nathaniel Cantrell

12th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen

Artist statement: This photograph explores balance, patience, and repetition in nature, using reflection and negative space to slow the viewer and invite a quiet observation. I took this photo to capture a fleeting moment of harmony- how wildlife, water, and silence briefly align before motion returns.

"Slam Down" by Matthew Selsor

12th grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Jana Jansen

Artist statement: The Harsh lights inspired me to work on editing, and the overall composition worked beautifully. I edited in Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw.

"Excruciating" by Ameerah Frisinger

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor.

Artist Statement: Dragonfly's iridescent wings are revered as messengers of the divine across many cultures, and the vibrant, explosive background resembles the flashing lights of a migraine, referring to the anxiety and shocking power of revelation. In the foreground, I layered more neutral colors to contrast the vivid hues behind, and to highlight the Christ figure’s humanity, beauty of sacrifice and compassion.

"In Waiting" by Oliver Malmin

11th Grade, Burlington-Edison High School

Teacher: Suzanne McLelland

Artist statement: What inspired me is just the idea of those waiting for something great to happen to them, I felt like taking a bit of a religious twist on it since I've noticed a lot of people in some sort of religion are usually waiting for something to happen.  I used a piece of wood for my canvas and oil paint sticks.

"surrounded by thought" by Lily Castillo

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I have recently started oil painting from the beginning of the school year. I tend to use pictures of what I have but if needed I'll find a reference online that best matches the details I need. I use most of the oil paints and canvases from my school, other than that I use my own paint brushes. I tend to get inspiration from personal experiences which matches the concentration of my work of art.

"Throughout" by Sunny McInnis

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I want to have made my dog feel as happy and cared for as she has made me. This piece’s goal is to represent the comfort I have with my dog in that way, she has provided me and my family with so much support just by being there for us to pet her. Within this project I’ve learned how to use my patience to an advantage and put in little details like her aging fur.

"Glowlights Bounty" by Robin Jeschke

12th Grade, Open Doors Marysville

Teacher: Chaney Lindsay

Artist statement: Glowlights bounty was painted out of a need for more color in my life. As artists we are constantly growing and changing so as an homage to my previous work I’ve painted the things I love like deer but with a new spin of bright colors. From this painting I learned to embrace change and new beginnings. If I could do anything differently I’d make it more vibrant to truly embrace the meaning.

"Betrayal of the self" by Robin Jeschke

12th Grade, Open Doors Marysville

Teacher: Chaney Lindsay

Artist statement: The painting is inspired by a poem I once read about how borzois (a descendant of wolves) were bred to hunt the very thing the cave from. The big thing I learned from that is the intense feeling that comes from knowing something of your creation is made to destroy you. If I had to do it over again I would push the colors a bit more to increase the drama.

"Color of Me" by Violette Harris, 10th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: My art teacher gave us an assignment to create a portrait of ourselves using primary colors to mix our own paint. I decided to paint myself using only various shades of purple because it is a color that I tend to identify myself with. I mixed the shades of purple that I used myself and that gave a very personalized feel to my painting. I really wanted it to be a representation of my personality.

"Starry Night" by Rylie Wilber

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: Whenever I feel overwhelmed I find peace in the dark back road with a starry night.

"Road" by April Whidden, 9th Grade, Concrete High School.

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: I drew it up first and did it because of realism. It represents calmness.

"The Solemn Salmon" by Remington Pritchard

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The most important thing I learned was how to use and apply paint to a canvas and how to mix paint. Not knowing how to paint, or achieve desired traits using the paint, and learning how to do it as it happened, was the major problem at the heart of this piece of art.

"Dream State" by Grace Petosa

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The major idea of my project is how a magical garden would look in your dream.

"Space Junk" by Aurora Palmer

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: Junk loose in space. The most important thing I learned was about detail. It looks good with detail.

"Above Snakes" by Peyton Bodenhafer

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson.

Artist statement: This work explores the radiant American West, inspired by Arizona’s rugged landscapes and cowboys. An orange acrylic underpainting on canvas establishes warmth and luminosity reminiscent of the desert, while the oil paint builds depth and texture, allowing the landscape to emerge with vibrancy.

"Kite Festival" by Gwen Miller

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I was inspired by Mary Cassatt's style while painting this piece. I was inspired by her ability to capture sentimental moments in an incredibly smooth, delicate manner. I wanted to give this piece a memory-like feel, with less emotionally impactful parts blurred while the main features of the subject remain sharper.

"Reunion" by Gwen Miller

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: I depicted one of my most cherished childhood moments: reuniting with my father after a year of deployment. I used oil paint to create this, wanting to give it a soft, memory-like feel. I focused on my father's face, as that is what I remembered most, while the rest remains softer. I created this from a photo my mother took, hoping to capture raw emotions the camera couldn't.

"Innocentia" by Aaliyah Erickson

10th Grade, Bellingham High School

Teacher: Catherine Gerich

Artist statement: I really wanted to capture childhood innocence! Slowly I was thinking of things to show this & came up with numerous ideas. Originally I wanted a little girl in a field with her mom picking flowers just from seeing lots of photos similar to that, however I talked with my mom & we both agreed it should be a little more original & imaginative & I saw a painting of a rose in half color & not & voilà!

"Stars and Stripes" by Reese Wasinger

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kit Christopherson

Artist statement: Recently, my grandfather and I rediscovered his father's flag, which had not been displayed, much less unfolded, since his funeral. After this surge of inspiration, my goal was to gracefully portray the movement and lighting of the draped flag, while representing my unique connection to those who have served our country, through my own family and the Navy community of Oak Harbor.

"Blue-chromatic" by Reign Harris

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor.

Artist statement: I painted this for a class project. The whole class was doing a monochromatic painting as a project. We all got our pictures done by one of the teachers and he used a website to edit the colors. I'm not sure how he did it but I got mine back and decided to paint it all blue. Some other people also did blue. Once I was done painting, I looked at it from afar and thought, "I did a good job."

"Sight" by Eliza Tidwell

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: While making this piece I focused on lenses. As we acknowledge our lenses, we are better able to recognize our assumptions and prejudices. I love the idea that we reflect the colors we see, and the decisions we make. If I were to make this piece again I would make the figure under the bridge more prominent, and spend more time on the values in the original sketches.

"The Extinction" by Matthew Koss

9th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: It's the first thing I could think of to paint. I also thought about asteroids and dinos. The most important thing I learned was to blend a bit more.

"Vanilla Perfume" by Lily Johnston

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: Such a nice smell, feels calming. I feel like this is what it's like when a sweet smell is in the heart of someone.

"Beautiful View" by Adriana Damian-Barrera

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The major idea was to express what a beautiful view looks like. The most important thing I learned was not to use acrylic; use oil paints.

"Just a Touch of Mouse" by Keller Crane

10th Grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: I wanted to do something weird so it would stand out.

"American Pie" by Charlie Steffener

9th Grade, Snohomish High School

Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

Artist statement: I had seen a clay sculpted pie and I thought I could take it to the next step and make a usable dish that can hold sweets and others. This project took me roughly 2 weeks since the intricate lid made the process longer. I used a knife to cut out the cherry leaves and strips for top of pie; as well as the slab machine to create the bottom portion.

"A berry sweet brew" by Emma Williams

12th Grade, Snohomish High School

Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

Artist statement: My strawberry teapot was inspired by the comfort of everyday rituals like sharing tea. I chose the strawberry for its associations with warmth, sweetness, and familiarity, transforming an organic form into a functional object. By blending playful imagery with utility, I aimed to create a piece that feels inviting, personal, and slightly unexpected.

"Marilyn" by Elliot Murray

12th Grade, Snohomish High School

Teacher: Kate Obukowicz

Artist statement: I was inspired by Marilyn Monroe's affect on the beauty standards even decades after her death. She has been a pop culture icon since the 1950s. I used additive techniques for sculpting and carved out the head and shoulders to thin the clay.

"Floral Fox" by Jane Emrich

9th Grade, Glacier Peak High School (Snohomish)

Teacher: Patricia Francesconi

Artist statement: I have always been fascinated with foxes, especially the red fox, and wanted to include them in at least one of my art pieces. I used a hole punch for the eye and several molds for the flowers and leaves on the fox. Prior to glazing my piece, I took time to observe pictures of actual red foxes so I could choose realistic fox colors.

"Manipulated" by Autumn Thompson

10th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: I was inspired by my family and how people in the world seem to manipulate others after putting on a facade of warmth and care only to manipulate and betray them. An endless cycle of breaking someone and building them again to the point that the original person is lost. I broke the piece with a hammer and super glued it together, filled in the cracks with black resin, and painted it.

"Fused Glass Light Sculpture" by Kate Douglas

10th Grade, Friday Harbor High School

Teacher: Andrew Anderson

Artist statement: I was inspired to create this piece by the idea of using sea glass within the structure and by natural, organic features. I greatly enjoy exploring themes in nature using clay and other three-dimensional mediums to portray the shapes and ideas found in nature.

"Floral Bowl" by Sage Stavros

9th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: This bowl was the first experience with pottery I've ever had. Inspired by the flowers in my mom's garden, this bowl introduced me to ceramics and is what made me fall in love with pottery.

"Growth" by Skyla Sanderson

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: I've been using Junior year as a way of branching out, and exploring new interests. Pottery and ceramics have been an interest of mine for a long time, and I was so grateful that I finally got a chance to take the beginner's class that is offered at my school. I created "Growth" using the typical tools that were provided in my class.

"The greed" by Natalie Stanley

12th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: My love for centipedes inspired me to make a mug showing how some rich people can use their greed as a sickening poison the same thing centipedes do if they hunger for food. The greed of certain rich people relates to how centipedes bite others to get what they want.

"Corruption of the Holy Sphere" by Ayana Marshall

9th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Maya Kilmer

Artist statement: This work is my first ceramic piece. While exploring the theme of corruption, I was drawn to the image of a crystal ball shattering. This idea came intuitively rather than from a planned concept. The sphere was created using the pinch pot technique, with the two halves scored and joined together. A sculpting brush was used to form the suction cups.

"Fungi Farm" by Lillianna Frisinger

9th Grade, HomeConnection (Oak Harbor)

Teacher: Mary Ellen O'Connor

Artist statement: My goal with this piece was to capture the concept that sometimes things and places that we love will fade away, but that beauty can spring from it, and the old decaying barns that are so common in Washington embodied that.

"Transformation" by Greyson Booker

12th Grade, Bellingham High School.

Teacher: Maggie Chen

Artist statement: My grandma, a clay artist, inspired these pieces that depict mythical creatures that transform; the two on the sides into humans, and the phoenix, center, being reborn. I learned that I enjoy semi 2D construction, coil work, and experimenting with oxides and glazes. A change I would make would be to flip the Selkie to face the center and move it to the left side to create greater piece unity.

"Luminous Jellyfishes" by Adriana Martinez Ramos

11th Grade, Oak Harbor High School

Teacher: Kayla Spruce

Artist statement: Jellyfishes are one of my favorite animals, and since I had many pictures of them I took at an aquarium, I decided to use one of htem as a reference for an acrylic project for school. I wanted to emphasize the glowing effect the jellyfishes had in the photo, so I used brighter colors to paint the jellyfishes and tank, and bolder, darker colors fo rhte background. I used acrylic paint and brushes

"Curious Animal" by Elijah Thorp

12th grade, Snohomish High School

Teacher: Katherine Obukowicz

Artist statement: Nothing really inspired me to take the photo I just took it because the reindeer was adorable. All I did was take out my phone and snapped a picture of the reindeer.

"Saturn" by Maryjane Vangoethe-Dye

10th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: When I was on the way back from a football game on the ferry, I was on the balcony, feeling a relaxing moment, and saw the sunset. I changed a little of the settings and got the picture as I was listening to "Saturn" by Sza and felt at peace.

"Chains" by Maryjane Vangoethe-Dye

10th grade, Concrete High School.

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The idea I had came naturally to me. It looked like when you're in a documentary series.

"Wonderful" by Jasmine Pearson

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist's Statement: The most important thing I learned is that there is no such thing as perfect!

"Pink Dahlia" by Jasmine Pearson

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: The most important thing I learned would be to take more than one image to insure you'll get a great shot.

"Prettiness of darkness" by Amariani Garcia

9th grade, Mariner High School (Mukilteo School District)

Teacher: Dani Bowlden.

Artist statement: My cousin had makeup on and I thought she look gorgeous and I had to take photos of her. When taking photos, I wanted to experiment a little and I didn’t realize my camera had a black and white filter,(I’m still learning about photography and how a professional camera work) I wanted to do some photos with it. I kind of wanted to go for a 2000s vibes but it doesn’t feel like it.

"Battle of the Ball" by Alex Olson

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: (The major idea behind the image) is two women's basketball players fighting for possession of the ball.

"This One is Mine!" by Ethan Derrick

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: This photo contains my dog: Brystol, with one of her favorite toys. Sometimes she can get really protective (hence the title). We use Adobe Bridge for labeling our images and Adobe Photoshop for cropping and any adjustments.

"On the Lookout" by Ethan Derrick

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: While the wasp is really laying on the flower petal, I feel like it's on the lookout for something (hence the title). We use Adobe Bridge for labeling our images and Adobe Photoshop for cropping, adjusting levels, and adjusting the vibrance.

"Sideline Siren" by Jamyleth Damian-Barrera

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider

Artist statement: I've always loved to look at the world through a lens. Having the opportunity to grab a camera and capture an image that tells its story through action has been my passion. We use Adobe Bridge to label our images and Photoshop to crop and delete color.

"The Undertaker" by Jamyleth Damian-Barrera

12th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: Being involved with sports has given me the opportunity to travel to different schools and get the privilege to take pictures of Concrete's boys basketball team. It's pleasing to see their passion for the sport. We use Adobe Bridge to label our images for filing and Adobe Photoshop to crop our images.

"Joyful Peanut" by Adriana Damian-Barrera

10th grade, Concrete High School

Teacher: Paul Rider.

Artist statement: My cats face looked amazing at the moment and I wanted to capture it.