Contest winner keeps it in family

For Emily Jang, art is in her blood. Inspired by her older sister, she began taking private art classes about four years ago so she could join her sister, Amy, at the Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts in Toronto.

The fruits of all that hard work are evident on the cover of this week’s Catholic Register. Jang’s depiction of a risen Jesus on the first Easter morning was chosen in the Grade 7-8 category as first-place winner in the The Register’ s annual Easter drawing contest.

“I feel happy to have won this contest,” said Jang. “My mom told me that I won. My sister knows, too. And we’re all excited.”

The 12-year-old Grade 7 student from Thornhill, Ont., impressed the judges with an exquisite acrylic-oncanvas painting that depicts Jesus arisen from the tomb greeting Mary Magdalene.

“I chose paint because it allowed me to express the colours that I wanted,” said Jang.

“Especially in the sunset. I wanted to express the Holy Spirit.” In the Grade 1-3 category, the winner is Trea Yan, a seven-year-old Grade 2 student from Markham, Ont. The young artist impressed the judges with a serene drawing of the risen Lord.

In the Grade 4-6 category, the winner is Peter Wentzel, 10, a Grade 5 student from Rosslyn, Ont. He won over the judges with a colourful painting of Jesus rising from the tomb.

Each of the three winner receives a $75 gift certificate for a day at the movies.

Jang’s painting graces the cover of the paper; the two other winners are displayed on these pages, along with several other entries from among some 200 submissions from children as young as five years old.