Art competitions require talent and creativity. S

enior Amber Nunn Khan was one of ten winners from different high schools in Hawaii in the 2011 Art Scholastic Competition.

There were 16 different art categories in this competition, and Nunn Khan won the photography category. Her award-winning photograph is displayed in the Hawaii State Art Museum from February to April. Later in May, the photograph will be sent to the mainland for national competition.

Nunn Khan said, “I was surprised at the picture they chose, because the one that did win, I didn’t think it was going to win anything.”

She submitted a portfolio (eight photos) and three individual photos.

She said that her award-winning photo “is a self-portrait of herself in black and white.”

She’s fond of taking pictures.

She said, “I’ll pick something I like, like a certain style, and then I will recreate it in my own version.”

For the future, she said, “I would like to go to art school. A lot of art schools in the main land are expensive; I can’t afford them,”

She said that she hasn’t selected a major yet, but will minor in art.

Nancy Wilcox, Nunn Khan’s photography teacher, said, “I’m very excited for her, because it’s her second year of Photography class and she’s the only one who won the award (in our school). Last year, she won two gold medals (in the Scholastic Competition). It’s the most prestigious and most important award that a student can win in high school.”

When Nunn Khan was asked about the criteria for winning, she said, “It had to be a unique piece you created, and it must be original.”

The 2011 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are now closed, but students don’t need to be in a photography, art or writing class to enter. Any student is welcome to sign-up for next year at artandwriting.org.