ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) -A Dougherty County high school student will have her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol after winning the Second Congressional District of Georgia’s annual Congressional Art Competition.

Qe’asia Arnold, a senior at Westover High School, described by her teacher as quiet, said her art reveals her creativity and perspective.

“I guess it just shows how creative I am and how colorful things are to me. So I try to use art as my way of expressing myself,” Arnold said.

Her winning piece, “Chin Up,” reflects a message she reminds herself and wants others to know.

“Chin up just shows how to be more proud of yourself, proud of your color, proud of your, like, however you want to describe yourself,” Arnold said. “I’m the harshest, worst critic ever. So, I do want to do more and try to outdo myself every time I do it.”

Arnold is expected to travel to Washington this summer for a ceremony honoring winning students from across the United States.

Teacher recognizes talent early

Arnold’s art teacher, Taneisha Whatley, has worked with her since ninth grade and said her talent was evident from the start.

“She’s very shy and she doubts herself a lot. And being her mentor, I’m like, no, this is actually really, really good,” Whatley said. “And knowing kids coming in high school, they have a lot of obstacles. This was her, like, her way out to get out of their shyness to show her talent since she wasn’t really a big talker.”

This is not Arnold’s first win. She also won a contest for the Albany Renaissance Project with a piece representing Albany’s legacy and highlights.

Arnold is preparing to graduate. Her piece “Chin Up” will hang in the corridor from the House office buildings to the Capitol. She wants people to form their own perspective of the painting, but remember one thing.

“Just keep your head up, honestly. You know, keep creating, keep expressing yourself. You know, no matter what, you’ve got to be proud of yourself and just keep going,” Arnold said.

Arnold’s painting is making its way to Washington, D.C., and she will join it, representing Albany among the nation’s young artists.

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