Watkins Memorial High School Art Department

01/02/2026

Congratulations to our three winners from this semester’s Top Photographer competition. Students were challenged with the theme Aesthetic Still Life, drawing inspiration from the Adorama Photography Show: Top Photographer, which we watched and discussed in class.

Awards were given in three categories: Most Creative, Most Aesthetic, and Teacher’s Choice. Each winning photographer demonstrated strong technical skill, thoughtful composition, and creativity within their still life work.

A special thank you to our guest professional judge, local photographer Megan Meade, for helping select this semester’s winners. The winning students will have their photographs displayed in the Spring SWL Art Show and will receive a paid entry into the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition in February. We are proud of all of our photographers for their hard work and creativity this semester. We had a lot of great work entered!

10/23/2025

WMHS Digital Photography students put their creativity and camera skills to the test this week as they experimented with changing aperture and shutter speed settings. To make the lesson even more fun, they dressed up as ghosts, capturing eerie, motion-filled images that showcased their growing mastery of exposure control. The combination of technical practice and playful imagination will make for some hauntingly good photos!

05/03/2025

SWL art teachers have collectively displayed 1,713 PreK-12 artworks in this year's art show. Tonight, the gallery is open from 5-7, followed by the cabaret at 7pm.

02/05/2025

Congratulations to WMHS students Brooklin Mason and Mariya Penkhasova. You can check out their artworks during the month of February--Brooklin's at the Columbus College of Art and Design and Mariya's at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.

05/22/2024

Ceramic students enjoying ice cream in their pottery creations.

04/17/2024

Experience the arts festival from April 28th to May 5th!

03/10/2024

Congratulations to Ashley Fox and Brooklin Mason for their exceptional achievements in the Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition! Notably, both Ashley and Brooklin have earned the prestigious distinction of having their artwork ranked among the top 25 in the state. Additionally, Ashley has demonstrated her extraordinary talent by placing a total of three artworks in the top 300. Watkins Memorial High School

03/09/2024

Good luck this weekend!

Congratulations to WMHS students Naveya Avena, Ethan Booher, Ashley Fox, Mariya Penkhasova and Brooklin Mason, whose artwork was selected for the state round of judging in the Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition. From about 8,000 total regional entries from around Ohio, approximately 1300 are selected to enter the state judging. Congratulations and good luck to these students in the final round.

02/19/2024

Please join us in congratulating our very own Ashley Fox on her success at the 2024 Scholastic Art Competition!

Ashley has been selected as one of the 5 American Vision Nominees for Central Region, in addition to earning a distinguished Gold Key award for her 18x24 inch ink drawing titled “Only 10.99.” This drawing took 6 months to complete using micron pens and was drawn using small dots in the stippling method.

This places her among the top young artists in Central Ohio, a testament to her hard work and dedication of the past 4 years. To be among the select few nominated for the American Visions Award is an extraordinary honor. The rigorous judging process involved over 1,350 individual pieces and 116 portfolios from students across 13 counties. Only 5 artists are selected from each region for this prestigious award. Ashley will be continuing on to the national round of judging, representing our school on a broader stage.

We are pleased to share that Ashley will also receive recognition in the form of a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art & Design! This scholarship, offered by CCAD, celebrates the achievement of senior American Visions Nominees, providing support for their artistic endeavors.

Congratulations, Ashley, on this well-deserved recognition! Your dedication to your craft is an inspiration to us all. We eagerly anticipate seeing where your artistic journey takes you next.

The Scholastic Art Exhibition will be on display in the Acock Gallery of the Canzani Center located at 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH until Thursday, March 7 during regular campus hours.

Watkins Memorial High School Southwest Licking School District

02/05/2024

WMHS junior Mariya Penkhasova and senior Ashley Fox received the top award, the Gold Key, in the regional 2024 Scholastic Art Awards, the country’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. Both students will advance to the national competition in March. Congratulations to our talented for earning both GOLD and SILVER keys for their exceptional artistic achievements! Mariyah won a Gold Key for her digital artwork “They Watch As I Pull.” Ashley won a gold key for her ink-stippled portrait “Only $10.99,” and a Silver Key for both her charcoal drawing “The Locksmith” and her oil painting “The Fear of Judgement Manifesting Into Perfectionism.” Their hard work and creativity have shone through, and we are incredibly proud. Watkins Memorial High School

12/08/2023

This week in WMHS Digital Art students worked on creating their own album cover art in Photoshop.

11/15/2023