This Year’s Holiday Card Sees the Forest for the Trees

Every year, artwork is submitted from our scholars throughout our academies and one piece is chosen to be featured on the cover of the Great Hearts holiday card. This year, out of a record 175 entries, the selected art is a heart-warming, acrylic painted piece titled, “Wintery Dream” from Lydia Luehrs, a sophomore at Great Hearts Anthem.

This beautiful winter-scape prominently features a large pine tree with intricate details including the snow dusted branches that looms over a small snow bunny who has left a miniscule trail of prints in the fresh snow.

She explained how she artfully showed dimension in the painting by using less detail and muted colors on the background trees in stark contrast to the darker colors and more visible details in the foreground. This attention to depth and distance displays her mastery of painting landscapes, which can often appear flat on a canvas.

Luehrs was recently recognized in a past article for her volunteer work in gathering donated books to furnish both lower and upper school libraries at Great Hearts Anthem. Read the full heartwarming story to discover the impact she has made through her service to the school at https://foundation.greatheartsamerica.org/an-anthem-students-journey-to-transforming-dreams-into-a-library/.

Luehrs was surprised with the news that her artwork had been chosen by Headmaster Zack Withers, her parents, her grandmother, and staff members in the school’s library. She was almost speechless as the news was delivered, grinning ear to ear. “I never thought that I would be holding my own work like this,” she said. “It’s just really exciting.”

“We ask lot of our students day to day, so when we see students who go above and beyond to participate in a contest like this it really is just amazing,” said Headmaster Withers. “Lydia is so talented in so many ways. We’re just so proud of her.”

Luehrs wanted to encourage other Great Hearts scholars to submit an entry next year. “Even if you don’t win, it’s fun to get to be a part of the competition and enjoy the painting while you’re doing it,” she said.

We are grateful to Lydia for sharing her talent with Great Hearts and all the recipients of the holiday card this year. We look forward to seeing this young artist continue to grow in Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.