Children Group Winners
First Place
“Abstract Mind”
- Artist: Clementine K.
- Category: Child Submission
- Medium: Acrylic Paint
“Abstract Mind” by Clemetine Kurjan, age 7 Youth mental health can be beautiful, messy, layered, colored, evolving, delicate, and strong. It is important to empower artist both young and old to explore and appreciate their gifts of self-expression through creating. Clementine displays this depth in her layered acrylic and sand abstract on canvas.
Second Place
Peace
- Artist: Mimi W.
- Category: Child Submission
- Medium: Colored Pencil
My older sister Addy was the inspiration for the flower. The quotes though are just something I’ve always done with my artwork and it just fit. I think quotes are a great way to help with motivation wether it’s for sports, friends, family, physical health, or more importantly mental health. I hope this artwork can make a difference for someone 💚.
Third Place
Unsteady
- Artist: Blake D.
- Category: Child Submission
- Medium: Charcoal
This was my first time drawing with charocal, looking to get impact with bolder lines and harsher impacts for all pre teens struggling with mental health issues.
Youth Group Winners
First Place
Happy Forgotten Birthday!
- Artist: Scarlett S.
- Category: Youth Submission
- Medium: Paper
When me and my friend jazzy found out one of our classmates birthday was a few days ago, and that her family forgot about her birthday, we decided to take it upon ourselves to make something for forgotten birthdays, this person if very depressed and also suffers with social anxiety so we wanted to dedicate this project to her, we hope that we win but if we don't we are very appreciative and grateful that you or many others have taken out some time in your day to read our description. We thank you very much, and happy birthday to any of the forgotten ones out there.
Second Place
Emotion of the Eye : Some days Seem as if they Never End
- Artist: Katie R.
- Category: Youth Submission
- Medium: Acrylic Paint
Eye's hold a life worth of emotion, experience ext. I am only 13 but I understand that concept. "Some days seem as if they never end" those words are in one of my favorite song. "Rises the moon" whenever I hear that song I feel like all my worries go away so I hope others will hear that song and feel the same. I think mental heath is very important for this generation and everyone.
Third Place
I Was Never Young
- Artist: Emily B.
- Category: Youth Submission
- Medium: Digital
This piece is supposed to represent mental illness at a young age. Youth is supposed to be innocent and one of the most cherished moments in your life, some people wish they could have the “eyes of their youth” once again so they could see the world how they used to. Yet when you have mental illness as a child and have gone through trauma at a young age, it would also be difficult for your younger self to see the world in a positive way. That’s what “I Was Never Young” means, certain people are not only exposed to disturbing realities now, but they‘ve always had exposure to things a young child shouldn’t have been able to comprehend.
Adult Group Winners
First Place
The Girl In The Bottle
- Artist: Allison C.
- Category: Adult Submission
- Medium: Digital
This piece was inspired by different feelings of depression, such as, feeling trapped, hopeless, isolated, stuck, helpless, tired, etc. I feel like this artwork encapsulates that by having the girl be stuck in the bottle where she is essentially drowning in all these feelings with no way to escape them.
Second Place
Young Mother
- Artist: Kristy K.
- Category: Adult Submission
- Medium: Acrylic and Crayon on Raw Canvas
“Young Mother” seeks to convey the beauty and challenges of moving into the new phase of life called motherhood. Life is no longer about you, there is a new focus. While uniquely beautiful, at times this phase can be lonely and isolating. Mental health should be paramount however is often overlooked. Pictured is a new mother is sitting on the ground with her new little one. Foggy, alone, beautiful, messy, mentally challenging, slow, fast, and everything in between. Acrylic and crayon on raw canvas were used to combine a playful nature of childhood with raw adulthood. By Kristy Kurjan
Third Place
A Silent, Solitary Battle
- Artist: Angelina J.
- Category: Adult Submission
- Medium: —
I created this piece late one night after experiencing a sudden, overwhelming feeling of isolation and fear of the unknown. I decided the only way to understand it and get it off my chest was to illustrate it. I struggle talking about this wavering darkness with the people I love because I want to be there for them first. I want to be strong for them. This factor influenced and inspired the composition of the piece. In this self-portrait, I am depicted with my hands covering most of my face in hopes to conceal my emotions. This represents my personal denial of my struggle as well as the act of hiding it from my loved ones. However, stubborn tears flow through my hands despite my efforts to hold it in. This darkness is all around me as well as a part of me and it looms like the unknown hand hovering above me. I detailed this work with intersecting scribbles of multiple different colors to capture a sense of overwhelming chaos. I found that colored pencils would add that raw and vulnerable essence that I hoped to include. Although this piece wasn’t initially intended to be shared, I hope that others find comfort knowing that they are not alone. It’s not healthy to hold in your emotions and this is a courageous step in that direction for me so I hope to inspire others to do the same.
