Senior Named Back-to-Back Winner of Slippery Rock University’s Instagram Drawing Contest

The chairperson for SRU Department of Art and jurors voted and named Priya's entries as the winner out of 160+ drawings submitted by students from 19 different high schools. The pieces were selected for imagination, technique, and clear documentation. Priya was invited to enter the contest again by SRU through her private art teacher . She was notified of the win via a congratulatory letter along with an SRU sketchbook.

As a burgeoning artist, she didn’t have to start from scratch to enter this competition. Priya said, “I already had a couple pieces in mind for this contest. I particularity wanted to enter pieces that showed how I incorporate my passion for drawing portraits and still lifes. I chose to enter my already finished pieces, Toucan and Lady, from my portfolio that got me accepted into college. Both pieces took me around four to six hours to complete.” Priya, who wasn’t inspired by a particular person or thing, experimented with different mediums and techniques to broaden her knowledge and skills.

Priya was recognized at the SRU Juried Student Art Exhibition Awards Ceremony and reception at Slippery Rock University in the Martha Gualt Art Gallery in March. “I was very excited when I won again. I really enjoyed entering the contest and seeing everyone else's work on Instagram,” Priya shared. “The overall experience of competing and seeing the other competitors and winners really helped me understand the competition.”

Next year, Priya will continue her creative pursuits in college by majoring in studio art with a minor in business.

Congratulations, Priya!