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Canfield High artist draws national attention
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield High School art student Alex Jesko holds a replica of his national award-winning art piece Spor.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Alex Jesko's piece "Spor" won national honors at a competition in New York.
By ABBY SLANKER
Canfield High School senior Alex Jesko has received a Gold Medal Award from The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for his artwork titled “Spor.”
Jesko placed 235th out of 165,000 national art entries. National level judging took place in March in New York City.
To be eligible for the Gold Medal Award, Jesko placed in the top four of the regional contest winning him the Best of Show American Vision Award.
Jesko, son of Bob and Shari Jesko, hand drew “Spor” with black and white pastels on a brown background. He is pictured on the right of the piece and Spor, a disc jockey in London, England, is on the left.
“This piece represents music I am interested in,” said Jesko. “I get in the zone and take the piece wherever my hands take me. I don’t think when I am drawing. It just comes naturally.”
Jesko had a bit of a delayed reaction after finding out about the national award.
“I thought it was cool. I didn’t think much of it at first, but then a couple weeks later it really hit me.”
Jesko also paints, but prefers to draw. He just started drawing last year, but wasn’t much interested in it. He said he has now figured out the secrets of drawing.
“I do all my drawing at school. It is an escape from reality for me,” Jesko said.
Kevin Hoopes, Canfield High School art teacher, entered Jesko in the competition.
“Alex is very focused this year. He is very committed to his work,” Hoopes said.
Jesko’s future plans are to attend Kent State University to double major in Art Education and Fine Arts. His parents are also both alumni of Kent State.
“I admire my art teacher and he is my main motivation and my mentor. I would like to follow in his footsteps,” Jesko said.
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards will hold a ceremony June 9 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, which Jesko plans to attend.