Edina Student Wins Online Art Contest

Grace Kapsner, a fifth-grade student this year at Countryside Elementary School, is all smiles when it comes to art.
   
“Grace is always fun to have in class,” says George Lundgren, the school’s art teacher. “She’s always smiling and concerned about doing things the correct way.”
   
Her attention to detail paid off. Last spring, the 10-year-old’s drawing of a Victorian house won first place in the fourth- through sixth-grade level on the international online art website Artsonia.
   
Art educators from around the world submit their students’ artwork to Artsonia. The computer randomly selects a group of students, who are then voted on by the general public. Kapsner’s artwork drew approximately 1,500 votes.
   
“I was really happy and excited,” Kapsner says of winning. “It took a really long time, more than half the year to make the whole picture.”
   
Kapsner drew inspiration from her old house and used her imagination, along with techniques learned in class, to create her winning drawing. Her award-winning art is also inspiring her.  
   
“I might want to be an art teacher, or a kindergarten teacher,” Kapsner says.