LBW Community College recognizes excellence in the visual arts as it presents the 33rd annual student art show, April 27-May 4, in the Andalusia campus art gallery.

“This year is one of our very best shows,” said Misti Purvis, art faculty. “We have some strong pieces included in this show.”

Students submitted individual pieces in different categories, such as drawings in black and white, drawings in color, two-dimensional design, and graphic design.

“Drawing 1 students have completed a fantastic still life and are working on their photo realistic images, all done in graphite. Drawing II students created large, colorful pastel drawings along with working in color pencils,” she said.

Anna Brooks, a freshman from Luverne in her first college art class, was pleasantly surprised to win “Best of Show” with her color pencil drawing titled “Hey There Dahlia.”

“I started drawing in the sixth grade. I would take pages out of coloring books and just draw, so I’m self-taught,” she said. “Taking this class, I learned new techniques to improve my drawings. It felt really good that my art was noticed and to win this award.”

Even with the top award in the 2017 LBWCC art show, Brooks intends to pursue a career as a neo-natal nurse. She plans to complete an associate degree at LBWCC and is investigating educational transfer opportunities to pursue her dream of helping save the lives of babies.

Makaylin Colvin of Andalusia is no stranger to the art world, having created many pieces throughout her childhood under the direction of her art-major mother, Dinah Prine. Entries in county fairs through the years garnered Colvin several blue ribbons in recognition of her talent.

Now completing her fifth art class at LBWCC, her entries in this year’s show earned two ribbons. The first-place award was for a two-dimensional printed piece, and second-place for graphic design titled “Robert Downey, Jr. in Sherlock Holmes.”

Colvin completes her degree requirements at LBWCC in May and plans to transfer to Troy University to major in art education and minor in English.

“I hope to teach K-12 art,” she said. She will get a little experience toward that goal by helping implement a week-long art program in early May in the Extended Day Program at W.S. Harlan Elementary School in Lockhart, funded by a grant.

“I want to help shape young minds into seeing the art in everyday objects,” she said.

Before settling in to a career of teaching, however, she wants to experience the world of flying as a flight attendant.

Tyra Bradley of Elba is a freshman working toward an associate degree and has taken only one other art class when she was in the seventh grade. In this year’s art show at LBWCC, she has a third-place ribbon attached to her color pencil drawing titled “Beauty of the Monarch.”

Her decided to draw the butterfly due to the colorful aspect of the picture, she said.

“I thought it was pretty. I got tired of the still life, drawing boxes, a cup and pencils, and paint brushes. I didn’t want to do objects, so I chose a pretty butterfly.”

Because she draws fast, she completed her required pieces early and is helping arrange and hang the art work for the show.

“For being almost self-taught and this being my first color pencil, I’m proud of the third-place win.”

These winning pieces and others will be on display for one week, beginning with a public reception in the gallery on April 27, 2017, 4-6 p.m.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. The gallery is located in the William H. McWhorter Learning Resource Center on the LBWCC Andalusia campus, and open for viewing Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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