After the chaotic events of 2020, OVS freshman Allyanna Westcott decided that 2021 needed a calm start.
That’s why, when deciding what to draw for the school’s annual Lunar New Year greeting card contest, she went the untraditional route, choosing a napping ox, rather than a strong standing ox, to start off a new year.
Every year Ojai Valley School hosts a Lunar New Year greeting card contest that features the animal of the year. The year 2021 is the Year of the Ox.
“I felt that after 2020, we needed a mellow ox kind of year more than a big aggressive ox kind of year,” Allyanna said.
Allyanna won this year’s competition by wowing the judges with her artistic ability.
She went a nontraditional route with her artwork by not using red and gold, which are the traditional colors used for this holiday. This was because red was really intense and did not work with the feel of the placid ox, Allyanna said.
She drew her ox digitally, while other students decided to draw their ox on paper.
“It was really cool that she did it on a digital pad,” said Tracy Wilson, the school’s director of advancement and admission. “That was the first time we have had a digital submission.”
Ms. Wilson, who serves on the board of judges for the greeting card competition, said the admissions department started sending Lunar New Year cards to OVS families seven years ago as a way of connecting with the many international families that celebrate that holiday, which this year falls on Feb. 12.
This year, the school will send approximately 250 cards to families around the globe. International families receive the cards virtually, domestic families will receive an actual hard copy.
The board of judges received many wonderful submissions, but Allyanna’s just moved the judges in a way that made sense for 2021.
“It just stood out from the others in a very different way,” Ms. Wilson said about Allyana’s artwork. “There was something so peaceful about it. I think it really touched us and it reflected how we feel at this moment, it was comforting, it gave this sort of sense of being soothing.”
Art teacher Chia Hersk gives all of her students this project and lets them use whatever media they want to in order to convey their take on the year of the Ox.
“Allyanna’s ox design is a beautiful example of creativity, drawing skills, and computer skills,” Ms. Hersk said.