An acrylic painting by San Benito High School graduate Chase
Wood, based on a picture by Free Lance photographer Nick Lovejoy,
won several awards at the San Benito County Fair over the
weekend.
Hollister – An acrylic painting by San Benito High School graduate Chase Wood, based on a picture by Free Lance photographer Nick Lovejoy, won several awards at the San Benito County Fair over the weekend.
Wood’s painting won first place, best of show and, as his dad informed him today, the “People’s Choice” award.
“I’m pretty stoked on that as well,” said Wood, 19.
The 2006 graduate of San Benito High School attends California State University, Long Beach, where he studies illustration and graphic design. But he started creating art – and entering it at the fair – while in middle school.
“I got into (art) back in seventh and eighth grade. My mom had some acrylics left over and I did my first painting – water color – and I got my first ‘best in show,'” Wood said.
Deborah Wood said her son and a few other students had been asked by art teacher John Robrock to paint a picture depicting San Benito High School life for the school.
Lovejoy’s photograph of the ‘Balers playing Independence High School at the Central Coast Sectional was suggested as the inspiration for his art. Because Chase Wood played football that year – and is actually shown in the photograph – he agreed it would be a good subject for his piece.
“I loved that picture. I saw a really nice composition – there’s almost a pyramid shape,” Wood said. “And I’m in the picture as well, so it was almost like a self-portrait,” Wood said.
He said he noted where he could add extra color to make his painting more abstract.
It was his first sports-related piece, he said, having primarily stuck with portraits and landscapes in the past. But Chase Wood agreed it was a good opportunity to combine two of his interests: art and football.
“Winning the CCS championship, it really made a dent in my life. After winning, I felt like I could do anything,” Wood said.
Wood said the painting was partly dedicated to his former football coach, Chris Cameron, and partially to his former art teacher.
After winning at the fair, the painting will be donated to the high school, Deborah Wood said.
