MARION - Illustrating a variety of subjects through various media, the artistic creations of Southern Illinois students were on exhibit here Sunday afternoon.

The Little Egypt Art Association's second annual High School Invitational highlighted five works of art each from a number of area schools, in a region stretching from McLeansboro to Cobden and Anna-Jonesboro.

The art was hung on the walls of the Art Centre on Marion Tower Square. Many creations were adorned with blue and red ribbons marking them as a judge's favorite.

"These are our future artists," said Kaye Howell, co-chair of the art association. "These are our future thinkers."

The artists are all high-school students but their art was anything but juvenile.

In a painting by Angela Matz, titled "Cherry Delight," the light and colors reflecting off two glass goblets were almost photographic in their realism.

"I did it last and did a whole bunch of pictures of nature," Matz explained, looking at her work. "I found this one. I really liked the cherries."

The painting illustrated two glass goblets with a plate of stemmed cherries and a leafy-green plant in the background.

Matz, 18, said she got her inspiration from a tiny icon she found online.

"I had to make up the flowers," she said. "It is watercolor."

The Carmi High School student said she has been painting for about four years but has always had an interest in the arts.

"I just enjoy it," she said. "I write a lot to calm down so I guess I paint for enjoyment."

Hanging on either side of her creation were a blue Best in Show ribbon and a red second-place ribbon.

Aaron Wright, an Anna-Jonesboro High School art student, said it was a mistake that improved his piece enough to receive a third-place ribbon.

"The whole background was that color green," he said about one shrub left in the colored-pencil drawing.

Wright said he didn't like the background so he cut around the car and attached it to a new background, making the creation more three dimensional.

"I like it," he said. "There is always going to be something you don't like about it."

Howell said there were 55 entries in the competition. She noted that pottery, sculptures, and photography were also included in judging.

All of the exhibits are available for viewing online at www.marionliving.com

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com/351-5824