We realize that many of our topics are a bit narrow for some of our artists to sink their teeth into. We try to make them as universal as possible, but not everyone is going to enjoy painting a still life, a book cover or even a self-portrait. So we have “Anything I Want” as a topic once a year, and if the number of entries is any indication, our young artists seem to like this topic best. And why wouldn’t they? They get to sit down with paint or pencil and draw exactly what they want, how they want. And when that happens, we are more likely to draw upon our strengths.
First place, 15-18 age group: Joseph Freeman, age 15, Meriwether Lewis EC
Second place, 15-18 age group: Amy Grass, age 17, Meriwether Lewis EC
Third place, 15-18 age group: Laura Taylor, age 16, Meriwether Lewis EC
First place, 10-14 age group: Barbara Xiong, age 13, Middle Tennessee EMC
Second place, 10-14 age group: Yash Mansharamani, age 13, Duck River EMC
Third place, 10-14 age group: Naomi Schwartz, age 13, Pickwick EC
First place, 1-9 age group: Wren Lawson, age 6, Duck River EMC
Second place, 1-9 age group: Braeden Buchanan, age 7, Duck River EMC
Third place, 1-9 age group: Mathias Buchanan, age 9, Duck River EMC
Ron Bell has been the designer of The Tennessee Magazine since December 1995. He also occasionally writes articles for the magazine and travels throughout the state, helping Tennessee’s electric cooperatives tell their story. He has designed logos for Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative and Mountain Electric Cooperative as well as T-shirts, posters, brochures and publications for TECA and co-ops throughout the state. Ron is also the creator and lead singer for his band, The Trailer Park Troubadours. Calling it “a hobby that got out of hand,” his musical pursuits have taken him across the U.S., to Canada and to Europe.