Sharon Gilchrist Foundation for the Arts Christmas Card Student Art Contest
The late artist Sharon Gilchrist started acrylic and oil painting around 2002 after retiring from her family business, Door Controls USA. She submitted one of her first paintings to the Van Zandt County Fair and won third place. She started out with an interest in nature and animals and then discovered a love for Christmas themes, especially Santa with a Western flair. The family collection today contains numerous Western paintings by Sharon including images of John Wayne, saloon ladies, and two favorite canvases featuring a little cowboy and cowgirl on another.
For more than 15 years, Sharon sent Christmas cards to family, friends, teachers, business colleagues, and new relationships she continuously added to the mailing list. Once she began painting, she made her artwork part of her Christmas card tradition by featuring one of her paintings on the cover each year.
Sharon passed away in 2015. To honor her artistic spirit, the Gilchrist family is continuing the tradition of art on the cover of their annual cards by creating a student art contest for Van ISD kids. The winning artwork will appear on the cover of the 2023 Door Controls USA Christmas card that goes out to thousands around the world.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Open to students of all ages attending Van ISD this year. It must be
ORIGINAL artwork. Accepted mediums include acrylics, oils, watercolor,
chalk, pencil, colored pencil, or digital. Can be vertical or horizontal,
but rectangular more than square. (Card is 5.5 x 8.5 vertical or
horizontal so proportion artwork accordingly).
DEADLINE: October 23rd, 2023
SUBMISSION FORM: Go to www.vanzandtacd.com/vangoartclub to download and print out the form. Parental consent is required. Tape the completed form to the back of the artwork.
ART DROP OFF LOCATION: Door Controls USA, 321 VZCR 4500, Ben Wheeler.
JUDGING: October 25th, 2023
WINNER ANNOUNCED: October 26th, 2023
PRIZES: 1st Place - $100 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Place - $50 Amazon Gift Card
3rd Place - $25 Amazon Gift Card
CONTACT: Cathy Davis (903) 833-5815 Ext.1135
CDavis@doorcontrolsusa.com