Huntersville student wins art contest, meets Jane Seymour

Jessica Traugott, who just graduated from Hopewell High, was one of two high school students in the country to win the Creative Self-Expression Art Show.

Photo courtesy Rich Sampson

She traveled to Malibu, Calif., at the end of June to attend a recognition event and meet actress and artist Jane Seymour, who is the show's spokeswoman. Jessica also won $2,000 scholarship.

Her piece, "Unexpected," features a drainpipe near a brick wall that's surrounded by old leaves and a vibrant flower.

"I was inspired by the topic of decay, primarily in the form of rust," Jessica said in a release. "I wanted to explore the contrast between organic life and industrial erosion."

The painting was viewed in Seymour's personal art studio at her home in Malibu.

This spring, high school students around the country submitted pieces at their local The Great Frame Up stores. Their art was judged by a local panel of professionals, and finalists' work was sent for judging to Franchise Concepts, Inc., in St. Louis, Mo., where a panel, including Seymour, judged the two winners.

Jessica plans to attend The Art Center College of Design to study entertainment design, and she's considering a minor in illustration.