Pops of red and orange color burst forth from India Getty-Pruss’ painting of a lounging tiger, an image she created in honor of the Chinese New Year.
The talented artist, who is a student leader and captain of the cross country team, has always enjoyed art and has taken a range of AP art courses.
But this year she broke new ground: the Ojai Valley School junior has been named the winner of the school’s annual Chinese New Year greeting card competition.
Each year, OVS celebrates the holiday, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, by sending New Years cards to families around the world.
Starting eight years ago, Ojai Valley School began hosting a Lunar New Year greeting card contest, inviting students to create images featuring the animal of the year. The year 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger.
For her winning image, India took a simple route with her design and coloring, allowing her to truly represent the beauty of the tiger.
She used acrylic paint to indicate the calm and ambitious spirit of the tiger.
“I tried to match the colors and I just did what I enjoy doing, which is using acrylic paint,” India said. “I wanted to do something simple [and] I did it in the medium that I prefer.”
India’s fellow students are impressed by the artwork.
“I think this painting has a strong Chinese flavor,” said senior Danny Wang, a Chinese student who is studying at OVS. “The background of this painting is combined with the tiger, which has the style of Chinese ink painting.”
The competition is not only about winning.
OVS art student Luc de Roode was inspired by India’s artwork.
“Simple can also be really good,” said Luc. “She didn’t use too much material, like I thought I had to add more things in the background to make the art look better.”
The Lunar New Year greeting card contest was started in Winter 2014 as a way of connecting with the many international families and alumni that celebrate the holiday, according to OVS Director of Advancement and Admission Tracy Wilson
During the past eight years, art teacher Chia Hersk has challenged her students to depict Fire Monkeys, Earth Dogs, Metal Oxen and, now this year, Water Tigers.
This year, the admission department has ordered 500 cards that will be sent to parents, alumni, and prospective applicants.
Additionally, an e-version of the card will be sent to more than 3,000 people worldwide at the start of the Lunar New Year, which begins on Feb. 1.
Ms. Wilson said she was not surprised when she learned India’s artwork had been chosen for this year’s New Years card.
“I just instantly loved it,” Ms. Wilson said. “There were other submissions that were fun and creative, but India’s was really outstanding.”
This year is India’s third year taking art classes at the Upper Campus. Since her freshman year, the New Years card competition has interested her, and she thought it would be exciting to win the competition.
“I think it’s a nice experience and it’s cool to me that it goes out to all the parents and families,” India said. “It’s kind of a cool experience that people get to see my artwork.”