The Hyde Museum’s annual High School Juried Show provided senior Bianca Babcock with the platform to display her incredible talent. From May 4th through June 2nd, student artists had the opportunity to submit their artwork to win prizes. And for Babcock, this competition facilitated her rise to the top.
But mostly, the reason for her success was the raw talent she had cultivated from a young age. She said she began drawing when she was six years old. Babcock recalled, “They [her grandparents] would always leave Bob Ross on, so I would sit in front of their little tv with my crayons and scrap paper and I would try to recreate his art.” This got the ball rolling for her, a kid searching for a way to understand her world through an artist’s perspective.
She continued this passion throughout high school. “I would say I’ve always been more on the artistic side,” Babcock said, reflecting on her decision to continue with art beyond early childhood and her loyalty to the Saratoga Springs art programs throughout her time at SSHS. The Toga art teachers encourage this type of passion, submitting their own selection of each student’s work to the Hyde Museum every year.
This year, several Saratoga students took home proof of their success. Babcock received Best in Show. Sophia Verdu, a senior, received the Jurors Award for her piece, entitled “Omens.” Leah Bell, a sophomore, received the North Country Arts Award for “Apple.” Babcock said, “There were so many amazing pieces.” Which was most certainly true. Around 200 submissions entered the Hyde Museum late last month, all unique styles and techniques, creating a difficult decision for the museum jurors to select just a few.
But these differences are what Babcock believed made her piece stand out. She said, “It might have been the techniques I used. I used a hashing technique, a directional shading which isn’t my usual style, and I also used two opposing colors, blue and yellow, to try and create a somber feeling and set the mood.” The piece that won the award was of her bedroom, a funereal piece relying on contrasting colors and detail to make it pull you in.
“It also could have been the relatability of the concept,” said Babcock. She created this piece as part of her AP Portfolio, which centered around a specific theme pertinent to the artist. She said, “I decided to do a drawing of my bed because it provides a view into the inner workings of my brain, and how my mind is cluttered from thinking about a lot of things at once. My bedroom is the victim of myself, almost.” She hopes that others might be able to relate to this message and find some comfort in her art.