The SDHSAA State Visual Arts 2026

The SDHSAA State Visual Arts is South Dakota's annual high school art competition and exhibition for grades 7th -12th. Students showcase their talents in categories like drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and more. Qualified judges award medals, and top entries are displayed in a public gallery. It's a fantastic opportunity for young artists to gain recognition and celebrate their creativity.

DRAWING MONOCHROMATIC

BULL RIDER

BY CAMERON M

One reason I enjoy creating art is that it is something I am very interested in, and it helps me deal with stress. If I am having a stressful day, working on art helps calm me down and take my mind off things. Rodeo has always been important to me because I enjoy watching it and have loved it since I was younger. For this piece, I decided to draw a bull rider because bull riding always catches my attention. Another reason I chose this subject is that my boyfriend rides bulls, and I wanted to create an art piece that would make him proud. To begin the drawing, I used an H pencil to sketch my subject. I created the drawing using 2B, 4B, and 6B drawing pencils. I used the 2B pencil for the lighter areas and the 4B and 6B pencils for darker areas and shadows. This helped add depth and detail to the drawing. The most challenging part of creating this piece was making sure the shadows were dark enough and lined up correctly with the rest of the drawing. This drawing represents something important in my life. It reminds me of my boyfriend and my interest in rodeo. I chose to keep the drawing in black and white because I felt it would look more realistic and allow the details and shading to stand out more than if I added color. Through the process of creating this artwork, I learned that not everything has to be perfect for it to turn out well. When viewers look at this piece, I hope they become curious about the subject and feel inspired to create art about things they enjoy.

TRADITIONAL CULTURE ART

Khokhoyah’anla Bloka

BY ALLY B

In this piece, titled Khokhoyah’anla Bloka, I wanted to explore the warmth and natural feeling of family life on the farm. My inspiration for this piece came from my brother’s chickens and roosters. He has raised them since he was six years old and continues to care for them and sell their eggs. I am drawn to creating art because it allows me to reset my mind, express my creativity, and represent my family and values through what I create. I chose a rooster as the subject because when I began using seeds as my medium, I immediately thought of our family chickens and the feed we give them. This helped me express both texture and culture connected to my family. The seeds are more than feed to us because many of them are gathered directly from around our farm.

For this project, I used a combination of farm-grown seeds, similar to those used in the Corn Palace artwork. As a class, we were asked to represent Native culture inspired by the work of Oscar Howe. I used a mixture of yellow corn, black corn, wheat, millet, sorghum, and sunflower seeds to construct the rooster. Each seed was individually placed using glue so I could carefully shape and build the form of the bird. I followed my instincts as I worked, deciding where each seed should go and which seeds would best show the different colors and textures of the rooster.

Through this process, I learned how to represent color and form using only natural materials with limited color choices. This project helped me see how creativity can turn everyday things into something meaningful. I believe God has given me the gift of creativity to express who I am and what I stand for as an artist. When viewers look at this piece, I hope they feel a sense of warmth and comfort through the natural textures and the connection to family and culture.

MIXED MEDIA

AND THEY ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED

BY ALLY B

In this piece, titled And They All Ate and Were Satisfied, I wanted to explore both the warmth and the painful realization of what God has done in my life. The inspiration for this project came from thinking about people who do not have meals, clean water, a home, or a family every day. I have all of those things and more by the grace of God and through the family He has blessed me with. The two things that drive me as I create my art are Jesus Christ and my family. I chose this subject because it reminds me how easy it is to take these blessings for granted. As someone who identifies as a Christian, creating this piece brought conviction, but it has also helped me grow more grateful for what I have and what my family has been given through Christ.

To create this piece, I used a combination of instant coffee and traditional watercolor. The coffee was used to create different tones on the cutting board and in the shadows, helping the piece look more realistic. The watercolor brought the painting together by adding earthy tones of blues, greens, browns, and tans. The pinkish stroke in the middle of each fish adds a pop of color and represents the blood of Christ. The speckles on the fish were also created with watercolor and applied individually using a dotting tool. One of the challenges of this piece was allowing enough time between each layer to dry without trying to perfect everything on the first layer.

Through this process, I learned how to carefully blend similar colors and create different shades using coffee as a medium. I hope viewers feel a sense of conviction if they have taken anything for granted, while also feeling warmth and understanding that Jesus forgives and loves all of us. As I continue creating art, I hope to keep representing the things that matter most to me—my family, my faith, and the blessings I have been given.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D)

GOOD MORNING

BY JENNA W

I really enjoy art because it helps release stress and strong feelings I have bottled up. Through art, I can express my feelings by putting them on paper or canvas. My piece, Athena the Warrior of the Mind, is designed as an owl because my favorite Greek goddess is Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. Athena is known as a warrior who can think quickly, which is why she is often described as witty and wise. I chose Athena as an owl because she is my favorite goddess, and owls are my favorite animals. The owl is also one of Athena’s sacred symbols. Owls are known to be wise and watchful, like Athena. When creating this piece, I first planned to make a basic barn owl, but I later decided to make it more mystical.

Owls are associated with Athena and are believed to see hidden truths in the darkness. To build the mask, I started by covering the base with layers of newspaper and plaster to strengthen it. I then added more plaster to seal cracks and prevent air from getting inside. After it dried, I applied liquid plaster to smooth and strengthen the surface before painting. I blended acrylic paints to create a dark color that fades into a lighter color around the eyes and the crest where the feathers meet. For the feathers, I used gold and silver tempera paint. I dipped an old toothbrush into the paint and used my finger to splatter the paint through the bristles to create texture. After finishing the feathers, I used the same splatter technique on the mask itself. For the eyes, I used fabric with small holes for visibility and painted them gold.

When I wear the mask or look at it, I feel confident and wise, like Athena. By confidence, I mean that I am not afraid to wear it, and the mask hides some of my insecurities while I have it on. Athena continues to be my favorite goddess because of the lessons she represents. Even though I do not believe in the Greek gods the way people once did, I enjoy learning about their stories and meanings. This mask represents wisdom, knowledge, and clever thinking. Through this project, I learned how to build a papier-mache mask and use paint techniques to express something meaningful to me. That is why I named the piece Athena, the Warrior of the Mind.

functional ceramics

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

BY VERA Y

The inspiration for my tic-tac-toe board, titled The Great Barrier Reef, came from my many coastal family vacations. Throughout my life, I have visited many beaches, and those experiences have made me fascinated by the ocean and the endless mysteries that have yet to be discovered. I am drawn to art because it is the easiest way for me to express my personality. It allows me to show who I am in ways that words sometimes cannot. While I value art for many reasons, the one that stands out most to me is that it allows me to escape from reality. Even if it is only for a short time, that escape has a meaningful impact on me.

To create the pieces for the board, I used air-dry clay. I first drew a starfish and a seashell on paper to make stencils. After cutting them out, I shaped the clay pieces and added more detail using a shaping tool. When painting the pieces, I used two shades of color to create value and a sponge to add texture. To create the board itself, I used another stencil that matched the shape of my smaller seashell pieces. For the board design, I researched coral species found in the Great Barrier Reef and incorporated some of my own ideas to represent the mysterious, unexplored ocean. I used a combination of Posca markers and acrylic paint to add color, and I used a sponge again in some areas to create texture.

Through this process, I learned to work with air-dry clay and create texture with a sponge. I hope viewers are intrigued by my project and notice the blend of imagination and reality in the design. My goal was for the coral, seashells, and starfish to look somewhat familiar, while the colors appear unique and unusual.

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