Oh, hi! I didn’t see you there. I’m really excited that you have this magazine in your hands—or on your screen—and that we have the opportunity to share this with you. My name is Catlin Whitington, and I’m the Executive Director of ArtPrize, an international art competition that brings amazing artists and artwork from around the world to Grand Rapids, Michigan, every year.
I wanted to talk for a moment about something very close to my heart: the incredible power of art and how it’s a part of our everyday lives.
You might think that art is something you only see in museums or galleries but art is all around us! It’s the murals on buildings, the design of your favorite sneakers, and the graphics in video games. It’s not just about painting or drawing; it’s about expressing yourself and seeing the world in new and exciting ways. It’s about the personal expression that influences everything from technology to where and how we interact with each other.
One of the most amazing things about art is how it helps us grow. When you create art, you’re not just making something beautiful— it teaches us to be patient, to solve problems creatively, and to express ourselves. Whether you’re scribbling with crayons, snapping photos on your phone, or building something out of clay, you’re using your imagination to see the world from different perspectives.
Art also plays a role in our emotional well-being and can help us to relax and feel good or can help us work through challenges in our lives. It’s a way to express feelings that we might not have words for. When we look at art, it can inspire us, make us think, and help us understand the world around us.
At ArtPrize, we believe that everyone is an artist. We celebrate all kinds of art and all kinds of artists. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been creating for years, your art matters. Your unique way of seeing the world adds something special to our community. So keep drawing, painting, building, and imagining. Keep sharing your art with the world, because you never know who might be inspired by your work.
Remember, art isn’t just something we do—it’s a part of who we are. It’s how we connect with each other and how we understand ourselves better. So, the next time you pick up a paintbrush, a pencil, or even a piece of chalk, know that you’re doing something powerful. You’re expressing your own unique voice and making the world a more colorful, interesting place.
Thank you for being a part of this creative journey. I can’t wait to see the amazing things you’ll create and share with the world. Be excellent to each other.
Catlin Whitington Executive Director, ArtPrize
About Cultivate:
Cultivate is an independent, artistrun arts organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We offer fine art education program, and artist resource center.
Actively teaching the Art and Artists of Artprize, Cultivate has created three magazines (grades K-3, 4-8, 9-12) that are Common Core standardized that can be a teaching tool and resource for art teachers and students yearround. These magazines will be distributed to art classrooms and schools across West Michigan and available at ArtPrize!
Cover:
Maxwell Pearce [3D] This is NOT a Basketball @ ArtRat Gallery VOTE ID 64488
Images:
Denisa Prochazka [3D] Namaste Flower
Kathryn Fleming [2D] Three and Me @ One Bourbon VOTE ID 47198
Stafford Smith [Time-Based] Me So Calgon @ Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University VOTE ID 11819
Ana Vanessa [Installation] Walking Through The Garden @ Bridge Street Market VOTE ID 37937 Joey Zeledón [+Design] Coat Check Chair @ Artprize Clubhouse VOTE ID 77238
Chalk River Labs [3D] Stargate @ Sixth Street Park VOTE ID 73981
Mattar Bin Lahej [3D] Zero Time @ Art Prize Clubhouse VOTE ID 45125
Ana Kim In the Room of Tiger’s Secret Garden
Avi Singh Kalkat, Rupinder Buttar, Saviraj Singh Kalkat [2D] Egyptian Dream @ Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum VOTE ID 57525
Terri Trivett [2D] Unifinished Business @ JW Marriott Grand Rapids VOTE ID 79647
Ana Coelho and Deize Tigrona [3D] Livro de Pau @ DeVos Place Convention Center VOTE ID 19343
Editorial/Copywriting:
Mallory Shotwell
Graphic Design/Illustration:
Eric Osborne
Curating:
Hannah Stevenson
Mallory Shotwell
What is art?
Get to know the types of art!
2D Art
Works of art that exist primarily on a flat plane. Painting, drawing, photography, printmaking and most textiles are examples of 2D work.
3D Art
Entries that occupy space and are intended to be viewed from multiple angles. Sculptures that are not sitespecific belong in the 3-D category.
Time Based Art
Artworks that are durational and change over time. The viewer has to spend some time with the work to fully view it. This includes performance, video and film, dance, music, and interactive work.
Kathryn Fleming [2D] Three and Me @ One Bourbon VOTE ID 47198
Stafford Smith [Time-Based] Me So Calgon @ Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University VOTE ID 11819
Denisa Prochazka [3D] Namaste Flower
New Media
Artworks that are created using a wide range of emerging digital art technologies. This can include but is not limited to animation, VR/AR, projection mapping, visual data analysis + display, video games, generative art practices, as tools to produce and display artworks.
Installation Art
Artworks that are dependent on the site in which they are installed. The location is not a neutral ground and is an important element of the work. installation is different from 3D in that changing the location of the piece would dramatically change the work.
+Design
Artwork that is physical expressions of purpose with the intent to impact the way life is experienced. +Design entries may belong to any design disciplines including fashion, furniture, automotive, architecture, urban design, industrial design, etc.
Ana Vanessa [Installation] Walking Through The Garden @ Bridge StreetMarket VOTE ID 37937
Brude Holwerda [New Media] Too Much Information @ DeVos Place Convention Center VOTE ID 49866
Creating With Color Color
and Emotions
What are colors?
Welcome to our colorful adventure! Today we’re going to discover how colors are not just pretty to look at, but also have special meanings that can tell us how we might feel. Let’s dive into the world of colors and emotions.
What can colors do?
Colors do magic! They can make us feel all sorts of things, for example, red can make us feel excited or strong! Blue might calm us down like a quiet sea. Yellow shines bright like the sun and can make us happy!
The Color Wheel
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Color and Feelings
Share the colors of feelings!
Fill in the boxes below with the colors that match the feeling:
Let’s put your color knowledge into action! Draw something that makes you feel one of the feelings above.
Shapes and Patterns
Learn About Different Shapes
What are Shapes?
Every picture, sculpture, and design you see is made up of different shapes like squares, circles, and triangles. Patterns happen when these shapes repeat in a fun and orderly way, like stripes on a zebra or rows of windows on a building. When you look at artwork, try to find all the different shapes the artist used. You might see a circle that looks like the sun or squares that look like parts of a house. After you spot the shapes, look for patterns. Maybe there’s a series of lines or a group of circles that come over and over again.
Color the Shapes and Forms!
Fill in each section to create an abstract work
Shape Bingo
Now, let’s talk about your special mission! Your objective is to recognize these shapes and create your own patterns using them.
We will play a fun game called Shape Bingo to help you learn. Each of you will get a bingo card filled with lots of shapes. During the game, you’ll look for these shapes around you or in art pieces we show you. When you find a shape that matches your card you can mark it. The first to complete a pattern on their card wins!
Art From Around The World
Spain
Cheryle Rome Beatty, an artist from Spain, draws inspiration from African art and the landscapes of southern Spain. Her work often includes strong lines and explores different ways of composing her art.
Brazil
Ana Coelho and Deize Tigrona, artists from Brazil, work together to create a sculpture that also functions as a book. They used recycled doors like book pages to write a story that mixes fiction with real-life events.
India
In India, artists Avi Singh Kalkat, Rupinder Buttar, and Saviraj Singh Kalkat work together to create bright paintings of an ancient Egyptian priestess. Their work is inspired by old Egyptian art and hieroglyphics.
@ Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum VOTE ID 57525
Ana Coelho and Deize Tigrona [3D] Livro de Pau @ DeVos Place Convention Center VOTE ID 19343
Cheryle Rome Beatty [2D] Gracie Goes Shopping
@ 2RST OTE ID 21681
Dubai
Mattar Bin Lahej is a self-taught artist from the UAE. He combines modern art with Arabic calligraphy to create unique paintings, sculptures, and photographs.
Australia
Chalk River Labs is an art collective founded by Jay Tettamanti. They find inspiration in the patterns and shapes found in nature. They turn simple sculptures into moving art by using lights and sound.
Australia
Terri Trivett, an artist from Australia, paints large portraits of horses. Her artwork is inspired by her memories of showing and riding horses throughout her life.
South Korea
Ana Kim, a painter from South Korea, explores themes like animal rights and the environment. Her paintings often show animals in dreamlike landscapes, using colors that make people feel calm while also making them think deeply.
Chalk River Labs [3D] Stargate @ Sixth Street Park VOTE ID 73981
Ana Kim In the Room of Tiger’s Secret Garden
Mattar Bin Lahej [3D] Zero Time @ Art Prize Clubhouse VOTE ID 45125
Terri Trivett [2D] Unifinished Business @ JW Marriott Grand Rapids VOTE ID 79647
Art and Senses
How artists use their senses to make art
Did you know that artists can use light, sound, and even smells in their art? They do this to change how we see, hear, and feel things, making art fun to explore with all our senses! Check out some artists who do this in their artwork.
Sight
James Turrell uses light and space to create visual illusions that alter our perception
Sound
Janet Cardiff is known for her audio walks that blend environmental sounds with narration, creating immersive soundscapes.
Smell
Sissel Tolaas uses scents to create artworks that evoke memories and emotions.
Touch
Anish Kapoor, whose sculptures often invite touch to fully experience the play of textures and shapes.
Taste
Ferran Adrià, who blurs the line between cooking and art, creating dishes that are taste-sensory experiences.
Make Your Own!
Use the box to the left to draw or write about your sensory art idea! Think about how you can use all of your senses to create an immersive art piece
Artists and Imagination
How our imagination makes art
Every artist starts with a thought–a sparkle in their mind–and then they use paint, clay, or even every day items to bring their ideas to life. Check out our interview with Keyon Lovett to see how they use their imagination to get ideas!
Imagine Like and Artist
Using your imagination is to think differently, and to create places and things that no one has seen before. Draw your own magical world in the thought bubble on the next page. Think about a place where the impossible becomes possible–like a city where the buildings are made of ice cream! After you finish, you can share your artwork with us and tell us what inspired your fantastic ideas. This is your time to shine and show how creative you can be, just like the artists we’ve talked about. So, let your imagination soar and create something wonderful!
Artists on Creativity
“To me, the ability to be creative is linked to being one with the Most High and having the ability to mold and shape something from nothing. I draw the majority of my inspiration from life itself, whether it’s through interactions with loved ones or my perspective on social events. I try not to limit the sources of my creative drive.”
