The cat’s eyes are the most appealing of the “Best of Show” piece in LBW Community College’s annual student art exhibit, according to artist Sara Beasley of Andalusia.

“Pumpkin” is an acrylic painting of Beasley’s cat, a project she waited months to complete after receiving the canvas as a Christmas present.

“I saw a close up picture of a cat, and it inspired me to paint my cat, so I took a photo and worked from there,” she said.

She kept the picture to use in her first semester of painting, resulting in the “Best of Show” among more than 100 entries.

Being recognized for her work is nothing new for Beasley, who won second-place in drawing with the Alabama Community College System Chancellor’s art show last year.

“I’ve learned a lot about all the different mediums artists can work with” while at LBWCC, she said. “I’ve also learned that you can take what you really love and make a career of it.”

Upon graduation, Beasley will take her skills and continue the study of art at the University of Montevallo.

“For the past 20 years, LBWCC has hosted the annual student art exhibit to recognize excellence in the visual arts,” said Misti Purvis, art instructor.

“This year, it features 100 individual pieces in categories such as black and white, drawings in color, two- and three-dimensional design, painting and graphic design,” she said.

“Many students created fantasy or surrealism images in Adobe Photoshop. Students created sculptures from recycled cardboard and everyday objects are duplicated in clay. This year, the drawing students drew on clay board which creates an interesting effect.”

First-place winner in Notan, a Japanese design concept involving play and placement of light and dark, is Trask Blackwell of Andalusia.

“I like shapes. I took a square and worked with it until I got a pattern I liked,” he said of the cut paper design. “It feels awesome to win first place.”

Sebastian Reaser of Andalusia won first-place for his work in black and white with one color.

“Of all the mediums that I’ve tried, I like this one the most,” he said. “I’m quite happy I got first-place on this work. It’s my first judged piece and my third drawing.”

Chelsea “Sketch” Allen of Opp said she enjoyed using the clay board to scratch her first-place award.

“It was so much fun. It starts as a solid black board and you have to scratch it to make the white. The closer the white is, the bolder,” she said.

Using a magazine photo as the basis, Allen modified the image to make it her own creation.

“I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to erase,” which cannot be done in that medium.

Additional first-place winners were Amber Bethea of Andalusia for “Bad Weather in the Bayou” acrylic painting, and Linda Ceuvas of Andalusia for “Zambia Mermaid” sculpture from recycled cardboard.

The LBWCC student art exhibit is on display through May 5, 2011, in the art gallery, located in the William H. McWhorter Learning Resource Center on the Andalusia campus. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

For more information on the exhibit or art program, contact Purvis at (334) 881-2250 or email at mpurvis@lbwcc.edu.

-Special to the Star-News