Recently, Kyra Fultz ’20 won three gold keys and one silver key, along with two national gold medal awards. She won by using oil paints to make two portraits.
“In the regional level, I received three gold keys and one silver key,” Fultz said. “My three gold keys continued to nationals and I then received two national gold medals.”
Fultz said she loves working with oil paints and found that oil paint is very helpful for creating realistic features.
“I started taking art classes my junior year and was introduced to oil painting at my previous high school,” Fultz said. “I fell in love with painting and found that, with every piece, my skill improved.”
Fultz said she doesn’t know why she started portraits, but it became one of her favorite styles.
“Once I got into portraiture, I found myself dedicated to capturing the details of each face,” Fultz said. “I spend at least 30 hours working on each portrait but I could never sit down and paint a landscape– I’d get way too impatient and bored.”
For her two pieces that won, Fultz said she had a comfort piece and a more thought-provoking piece.
“My comfort painting is a photo I took a while ago,” Fultz said. “I loved the lighting and detail in the photo so I decided to paint it. For my other painting, I wanted to create a thought-provoking piece. “The Proverbial Moccasin” painting is of Nathan Phillips wearing a MAGA hat.”
According to Fultz, this was the first year she submitted art to Scholastics, which is open to students from seventh to 12th grade.
“I only submitted a few pieces, but I was optimistic that I would receive a regional award,” Fultz said. “It was exciting to hear that I received three gold keys and one silver key. Then, my three gold keys continued to the national level. I didn’t anticipate any award, so I was shocked and very excited to receive two national gold medals.”
According to Fultz, students can submit work to their region and there are different levels of recognition.
“You can submit individual work, or, for seniors, you can submit a portfolio,” Fultz said. “I didn’t have enough work to submit a portfolio, so I only submitted individual paintings. The awards themselves are gold key, silver key and honorable mention, and I’m pretty sure there are two other awards you can recieve. Students who receive a gold key in the regional level automatically advance to nation judging.”
For students who receive national medals, there is usually a national ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City, but Fultz said this year’s ceremony is canceled due to the coronavirus.
“You can submit individual work, or, for seniors, you can submit a portfolio,” Fultz said. “I didn’t have enough work to submit a portfolio, so I only submitted individual paintings. The awards themselves are gold key, silver key and honorable mention, and I’m pretty sure there are two other awards you can recieve. Students who receive a gold key in the regional level automatically advance to nation judging.”