Congratulations to Sophomore Curtis Ostendorf for earning the title of 2024 Paxton Buckley Loda High School Artist of the Year! Curtis is the son of Lindsey and Ian Ostendorf and lives in Paxton, IL. Curtis is currently taking Art II and has surpassed expectations on every project. He was our November Artist of the Month, and also placed at the Illini Prairie Conference Art Show for his racoon scratchboard drawing.
Curtis is also involved in the spring musical, art league, scholastic bowl, and the high school golf team. He plans to attend college or a trade school after high school. Curtis brings great joy and encouragement to the art room and stated that he is most proud of his scratchboard drawing of a raccoon, which he titled Pjzhimmiey. Curtis’s favorite materials to work with are pencils and watercolor pencils because you can create thin details, solid colors, and are able to recreate values and colors easily as compared to other materials, he shared. He credits his willingness not to rush and time spent outside of class working on projects for the success in his artworks. When asked about his favorite art related memory, Curtis shared how much he enjoys art class and the people in it-- “I love all the people in there, and they all make it the best class ever”. Curtis has found his art teachers Mrs. Ager and Mrs. Wood to be very inspirational, personable, and memorable.
When asked what advice Curtis would give to other art students like himself this is what he stated: “Find people that you enjoy the company of and that will help you and push you to do your best. My best works of art have come from this year-- Art 2, and that is because of my teachers and friends in that class who, for better or worse, were a catalyst for me to be myself. That kind of healthy environment positively BREEDS good art, and with time you can be great. (Also stop saying "I could never even draw a stick figure" you literally can, stop it.)”
The art room is a special place.
Curtis will have one of his artworks purchased and framed to be on permanent display. Congratulations again to the 2024 Artist of the Year, Curtis Ostendorf!
