Warm hues spilling across the screen, sophomore Zoe Ng portrays traditional Hong Kong culinary and cultural aspects through her artwork, using color and composition to capture the warmth of everyday life. Paint memories onto canvases
Ng earned one gold key and two silver keys for her artwork in the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, submitting one printmaking piece and two acrylic paintings after months of dedication. Presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the national program recognizes creative achievements among students in grades 7-12.
“My favorite part was definitely watching my painting come to life as I got closer and closer to finishing it,” Ng said. “When I found out [I won], I was really happy.”
Her gold-awarded painting displays a Hong Kong street stall containing food and skewers, using warm red, orange and yellow tones throughout the piece.
“My works give me a sense of nostalgia and comfort since the subjects I drew are what my environment was like while growing up,” Ng said. “I was trying to convey the warmth and familiarity of home through my pieces as well as showcasing parts of my culture.”
For her silver keys, she painted a traditional Hong Kong cafe, using purple, green and blue tones to create contrast. Her black-and-white printmaking piece, made by transferring ink from a surface onto the paper, focused on the sale of fish in wet markets and for pets.
“She took so long to get it done starting from summer break, so I was a bit nervous that she couldn’t convey what she wanted to present. When I found out she got something in the competition, that was a big surprise, but I was happy she was able to get something,” Zoe’s mother, Mrs. Cathy Ng, said.
Ng received support from her AP Studio Art teacher Michelle O’Shields, who reviewed her drafts, providing guidance and feedback throughout the process.
“I was so proud of her. I’ve seen her grow as an artist, and she’s so devoted to her work. I was really happy that she was recognized for the beautiful work that she does,” O’Shields said. “I love that she uses a medium that is not done very often, especially in a high school art class.”
Ng spent a month on her printmaking piece and five months on her paintings leading up to the competition, and her results will allow her works to progress to the national level.
“While I was working, I definitely felt stressed because of the deadline while trying to fix all the details and perspectives, but the results made it all worth it,” Ng said.
