Dixie Electric held its third annual Student Art Contest, where 7-12th grade students, who also live within Dixie Electric's service territory, were invited to submit artwork based around the theme of electric cooperatives.
Dixie Electric received 15 art submissions from across the seven counties it serves. The artwork was judged by an electric cooperative graphic artist from Jackson, Miss.
Brylee McLaurin, a seventh-grade student from South Jones High School, was chosen as the winner of the 2024 Student Art Contest. Brylee describes her painting as an acrylic on canvas that took six sessions to complete.
"My inspiration for this painting was from photographs of the Bush Farm across from West Jones High School,” said Brylee. “The landscape, old barn, and cows with the power lines were the inspiration for the rural electric power theme in the competition."
Brylee began art lessons at Anderson Square in North Laurel when she was seven years old. She fell in love with art quickly and has kept it as a hobby since then. Over the last two years, Brylee has taken private art lessons from Mrs. Lori Harrison to advance her artistic skills.
"I really enjoy drawing and painting various types of animals, such as horses, cats, dogs, and cows,” said Brylee. "I enjoy learning about the different styles of artwork and the use of different mediums."
When Brylee thinks of her favorite artists who inspire her, she keeps her love for art local. "I really admire (the late) Mandy Buchanan from Laurel as well as Mississippi Gulf Coast artist Walter Anderson.”
This isn't the first award Brylee has won for her artwork. “I've won first place in acrylics, first place in watercolor, and first place in oil pastel for different artwork at the South Mississippi Fair Art Competition’" said Brylee. “I also received first place in acrylics and oil pastels at Laurel's Day in the Park.”
When she isn’t drawing or painting, Brylee has plenty to keep her busy. Brylee is a member of the junior varsity colorguard team at South Jones, where they just received 3rd place in the Cadet division at the Mississippi Indoor Association Championship. Brylee is also an active swimmer, participating as a member of the South Jones swim team along with the Laurel Swim Association.
“I was so excited and honored that my painting was selected for this award,” said Brylee. “I’m excited to continue to grow and learn as an artist.”
Brylee lives in the Pleasant Ridge Community with her parents, Chad and Lacey McLaurin, and attends Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church.