Many you know of my niece, Violet Mannion, from the comment threads on my Lemony Snicket posts and from her occasional visits to other posts by her uncle. Besides being a savvy commenter, an insightful movie critic, a devoted Harry Potter-ite, the foremost Beatles fan in her junior high school, and an appreciator of vintage automobiles, Violet is a very talented artist. One of her illustrations just won first prize for illustration in the New York State Olympics of the Visual Arts.
Violet gives the details: "[My award] was in the jr. high division for illustration. Olympics of the Visual Arts. It was in Saratoga, and there were actually quite a few people there, i mean, like, some were from Elmira ny or buffalo. I think there was one from long island, too. We had to, for illustration, do a picture of, or illustrate, the poem "The Elfin Artist" by Alfred Noyes. The actual competition was in Saratoga, and they had judges for each seperate category who were professional illustrators, photogrophers, archetects, etc. We did the project for a couple months in school, though."
And here's Violet's winning illustration:
Congratulations, Violet!
Nicely done, Violet! Is that in watercolor? Lovely colors!
Posted by: Claire | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Congratulations, Violet! Beautiful work! You're a very talented girl. Talented and insightful. (I've read many of your online comments!)
Keep painting, keep writing. You have a gift.
Posted by: Chrys | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 11:11 AM
Thanks. It is watercolor and it's actually 3-D as well. The flowers and leaves in teh foreground.
Posted by: Violet Mannion | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 01:00 PM
Wow! Lovely painting, Violet.
Posted by: Matt | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 01:42 PM
Congratulations Violet. Imaginative use of 3D in your lovely illustration!
Posted by: Idyllopus | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 03:54 PM
congratulations, ms. mannion! keep up the good work!
Posted by: harry near indy | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 05:49 PM
That is really beautiful -- you are very talented~ Keep it up, Ms. Mannion!
Posted by: blue girl | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 06:38 PM
Violet, since you like art about the little people, maybe you would like to look behind the Duir of my post today. Congrats for a neat picture.
Posted by: earl bockenfeld | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 06:39 PM
That's very good indeed, and it has the additional benefit of introducing me to one of many Alfred Noyes poems I don't know. (I think the only one I do know is "The Highwayman.")
You've captured the artist's concentration perfectly.
Posted by: Linkmeister | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 07:07 PM
Oh, it IS 3-D! I was wondering if it might be. Very, very cool, Violet! :)
Posted by: Rana | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 07:39 PM
I am impressed. Well done Violet and thanks to Uncle L. for sharing it with us now too.
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | Monday, April 17, 2006 at 09:23 PM
Hey, I'll buy it, if it's for sale.
Posted by: burritoboy | Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 05:45 PM
Congratulations, Violet! From what I can see on my computer monitor, you did an excellent job depicting all the various greens of the foliage, which I understand is tricky even for experienced watercolorists.
Two of my favorite illustrators are Cicely Mary Barker, who drew the Flower Fairies, and Beatrix Potter. Ms. Potter wanted to be a professional botanical illustrator, and her portfolio was good enough to get her an invitation from the Royal Academy -- which they rescinded when they discovered that "B. Potter" was, oh horrors, a woman!
Posted by: Anne Laurie | Friday, April 21, 2006 at 12:47 AM