As the artist stared at the photos taken by her father, she saw the lighting bringing in a stimulating scene. But when 16-year-old Sophie Zhou picked up a brush and painted an emotional scene, it was a “heartwarming” bond she was trying to express.
“My dad actually took this reference photo while on a road trip in Texas,” Zhou told the Epoch Times. “I thought it was really beautiful. How the light shined, highlighting the relationship between her mother cow and her calves.”
Started drawing as quickly as possible, and taught painting at a Chinese school around the age of six, Zhou applied the oil foundations entitled “Childing” of Western-themed artwork. Her technique starts with a simple pencil drawn on a canvas and builds the layer over the layer of paint over top. She first places the generalized shapes and colors, then chooses finer details.
Although painting usually takes 20-30 hours, she says, her cow pair that she entered the Rodeo School Art Auction was special. The last touch that began in May was applied around December.
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“I thought it was great for the rodeo,” she said. “I really wanted to capture the lighting very well, but that was especially important to me. I mean, I spent a lot of time mixing the colors and painting them in detail.”
“Child” by Sophie Zhou. Provided by Sophie Zhou
Zhou says he will take home $38,000 from the award.
Her paintings will be on display in the lobby of the NRG Centre during the 2025 Rodeo, which begins on March 4th and ends on March 23rd.
Western culture is what Zhou says she has always been interested in. She and her classmates say they are currently studying westward expansion and early cowboys in American history classes.
However, Zhou’s works are not limited to Western themes. She also likes portraits and wildlife, as there are dozens of paintings under her belt. She won a gold medal in Scholastic Art and Writing Award for Best Picture for Summertime Sus, a painting by Summertime Sus, which expresses the “summer atmosphere” that expresses the “summer atmosphere” that drinks small Asian girls on a hot day.
“Summertime Sass” by Sophie Zhou. Provided by Sophie Zhou
Sophie Zhou’s “Just like the first day.” Provided by Sophie Zhou
In another Zhou artwork, an elderly couple enjoys steamed Chinese dumplings together and enjoys a loving double portrait entitled “Just the First Day.”
However, despite his love for art, Zhou intends to pursue a more academic path after graduating from high school.
“My dream university includes U Chicago,” she said. “For now, I’m going to go into the legal and investment bank.”
However, painting will definitely remain in the photograph “as a hobby for the rest of my life.”
Now, as Zhou finishes his 11th grade, she is working on a portrait commissioned on the side. Next year, when she is a senior, she will be re-entering the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Student Painting Competition. That will be her third and final time.
