Many artists go a lifetime until their artwork is noticed; most are not even recognized for their achievements until decades after when they pass away. Among many, the names that come up are Leonardo Da Vinci and Picasso.

These names have been glorified for centuries, however you don’t have to be in a history book for your art to be appreciated by many. Seniors Luisa Talamas and Brittany Stamey are in the art program at Akins. Talamas and Stamey summited their art portfolios to Scholastic, a highly competitive competition that all AISD schools enter.

“I was pretty excited,” Stamey said. “Scholastic is a huge opportunity to receive a huge scholarship as well as some recognition in the art. Since it was judged on a national scale it was a bit intimidating, but it really inspired me to try my best.”

Both Talamas and Stamey hold the competition to really high standards and enjoy the competitive nature it brings.

“Submitting my work to competitions is always vey exciting,” Talamas said. “I especially enjoy national competitions because you must be well prepared.”

“I really feel that all the high expectations overwhelm many students participating in these competitions,” Art director Vivian Medina said. “Many of the students are in different academies which have them very busy, at times these students are working on portfolios with 24 art pieces or more, which is more than a college student.”

There has not been an artist from Akins recognized in 3 years, even though artist have been working harder than before.

“Years ago we used to be one of the top in the district for our art,” Stamey said. “So I think now we’re just really beginning to work hard to prove to Akins and the district that we still have talented and strong artists on campus and the art department deserves much more attention and recognition than we’ve been getting.”

Stamey’s work has been in very high regard; it has been featured at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

“Entering a piece you have been working on for a long time, specifically for that contest, is a lot different than just picking and choosing from your best pieces,” Stamey said. “When you finally have it done and its shipped off to be judged you just get this overwhelming sense that you’ve completed something and it is about to serve its purpose.”

Both artist are very serious about their art and plan to do use their skills in the future.

“I love making art, and I know that I wouldn’t be able to keep all my pieces unless I was going to turn my house into a museum,” Talamas said. “So I have been selling my art and plan on selling some in galleries around Austin as well.

Talamas has an internship as well, and is very involved in her art and plans to enter the design world and have her own business.

“I am very proud of Luisa and Brittney, they are both very involved in their art as well as busy with their studies,” Medina said. “They are accomplishing a lot of things for their age.”

The art program has been quiet for a few years, but has now exploded with a roar of great artists who are experiencing their dreams, and striving for more.