Thirty Fort Bend ISD students will advance to the Houston Rodeo Youth Art Competition after competing in the district’s Rodeo Art Competition this past weekend at Anne Sullivan Elementary.

The art competition takes place every year and serves as a forum for aspiring artists from kindergarten to 12^th grade to showcase their talent.

Best of Show winner Joy Park began preparing for the art contest in the summer.

“We found this rodeo in San Antonio, and drove all the way there, and took about, like, millions of pictures,” Park said.

Students work to prepare their hyperrealistic artwork for submission in their school art class.

After the students at the district level are declared winners, they advance to the NRG Arena, where they are further judged.

The winners from the second round advance to the Rodeo Art Auction in Houston with the opportunity to win up to $255,000 in scholarships.

Clements High School art teacher Olivia Hooper talked about the tedious process it takes to prepare her students for the competition.

“It’s months and hours of work. "Sometimes, even about a year,” Hooper said. “But getting to see them grow, and the scholarship opportunity—it drives them, and it’s so rewarding to see!”

This year, 10 of her students advanced to the NRG arena.

 The Rodeo Art Show showcases different types of art, including pencil sketches, oil paintings, ceramics and more.  

 “I feel really grateful, and I feel that patience is the key, because it takes a while to create something really good,” Sien said.