High School Junior Christina Davis Wins 4th District's Annual Congressional Art Competition

Press Release

Every year, Congressman Ralph Hall (TX-04) invites high school students throughout the 4th District to compete in the national Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition gives students a rare and unique opportunity to share their talent, as each participating district winner's artwork is displayed for a year in the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.

Congressman Hall is pleased to announce high school junior Christina Davis from DeKalb, Texas as the 2014 winner for the 4th District of Texas. Christina's winning artwork, titled "To Move, To Touch, To Inspire," represents a particularly special memory to Christina.

"This is one of my favorite pictures of my sister and me," said Christina. "The photograph really shows how much I looked up to her and dreamed of one day being a ballerina just like her!"

Christina has always had a passion for art, having drawn and entered local art contests since elementary school. "I had gone to a small school where we did not pick our classes, so once I got into high school I was eager to sign up for Art 1," she stated.

In "To Move, To Touch, To Inspire," Christina employed the use of watercolor and chalk pastels, which are her favorite art techniques. When asked about her idea to paint on wood rather than canvas, she stated, "I had previously seen several pieces done on wood and was excited to try something different from anything I had ever done."

Brenda Smith, Christina's Art Teacher, further explained the painting technique: "Christina used watercolor and chalk pastels to soften the edges of the figures, applied the watercolor paper to wood, and then aged the piece by sanding it down to let the wood show through. The whole process took on its own life as it progressed."

Mrs. Smith went on to praise Christina's efforts, stating, "As Christina Davis's Art Teacher, I have had the pleasure of working with her in the classroom for two years. She is extremely creative and loves researching and experimenting with unusual techniques.

"Ballet is still a large part of Christina's life as she was chosen to play the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker production at the Perot Theater just this year. Winning the Congressional Contest with her piece "To Move, To Touch, To Inspire' made this an even more exceptional year for Christina Davis."

Although Christina is undecided on her path after high school, she knows "that even if I don't pursue art as a career, I will never stop drawing!"

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