SCITUATE – Scituate High School senior art student Bellah Torres says it took her about two weeks to complete her art piece that won the 2026 High School Art Competition, and it was worth every minute.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced the winners of his competition celebrating student artists across the state. Cosponsored by the Rhode Island Art Education Association, the contest features artwork of students from 22 schools.
Judges chose “Untitled,” an ink drawing Torres created using almost imperceptible letters, words and phrases to create the image. The various words are references from the Bible.
She said she found out about her win days late, as winners were announced over vacation and she didn’t get the email until she returned. She said it was a very exciting moment.
Torres, daughter of Britnee and and Mark Torres, told The Local Insider she had never worked in micrography before, which features tiny script turned into pictures. She said she’d been given the choice by her art teacher Wendy Feldman to either go that route or complete an art piece using dots, and decided to go with micrography in creating her interpretation of Jesus.
After referencing a photo and sketching outlines, she said she looked at the photo to see the highlights and shadows that were most visible and marked them out on paper. She then used pens of different sizes, with different amounts of layering of the words to create shadows.
Bellah, who attends Trinity Episcopal Church in Scituate, said her faith is a big part of her life, which is why she chose the subject matter she did. She said she wanted to do something unique, knowing that many others have done art based on famous songwriters and their songs.
“I was just really drawn to doing something different,” she said.
She said she has a Pinterest board full of about 500 Bible verses, and she was able to complete the image of Jesus without doing many repeats.
The senior said she is selling copies and all proceeds will be going toward her college tuition.
The first-place prize in the state competition is named in memory of David DePetrillo, the state’s former tourism director and a longtime member and former president of the Providence Art Club who donated his time as a judge, mentor, supporter, and emcee of Reed’s art competition and reception for more than a decade. Mr. DePetrillo died last year.
Student works of art are on exhibit in the Center Court of the Warwick Mall through Sunday, May 3, and will then be at the Providence Art Club.
This year’s winners were chosen by an independent panel of local judges that included Marta V. Martinez of Rhode Island Latino Arts; Paul DePetrillo, a Warwick-based artist; and Berge Zobian from Gallery Z, Inc.
Britnee Torres, a lifelong Scituate resident, said her daughter doesn’t like to boast, but she has completed numerous stunning art pieces, and they are so proud of this win.
Bellah said she also enjoys sewing and other art-related hobbies. She said she enjoys spending time with family, including her sister.
As for her classes in Scituate, she said engineering teacher Andrew McCarthy is so easy to talk to and helps her with all of her subjects. She said Feldman and her first art teacher, Carly Davis, have also been inspirations.
Valeria Del Carmen Quintana, a junior from Cranston High School East, earned recognition as this year’s second-place winner with “Parent’s Love.” Soelil Peang, a sophomore from Cranston High School West, earned the third place spot with the drawing, “A Mother’s Love.”
All three winners will receive a ribbon and custom framing of their work by Providence Picture Frame & Dryden Gallery of North Providence.
“I want to congratulate Bellah, Valeria, Soelil, and all of these talented students for their great work. This year’s submissions were truly spectacular, thought-provoking, and creative,” said Reed in a statement. I’m proud to showcase the talents of these young artists and thank the teachers, parents, family members, and mentors who inspire, encourage, and uplift young artists, cheering them on and encouraging them to express themselves through art. I am so grateful to all the educators and volunteers who make this annual celebration of aspiring artists possible.”
Reed will host a special reception for all participating students, art teachers, school officials, and judges at the Warwick Mall on May 3 from 6 to 7 p.m. All guests are asked to utilize the mall entrance near JC Penney.
Honorable mention awards were given to six students: London Jackson, a sophomore from Cranston High School East; Winona White, a sophomore from Cranston High School East; Omar Abdelkhalek, a junior from Mt. Saint Charles Academy; Ashley Greene, a junior from Tolman High School; Keira Schneider, a senior from Mt. Saint Charles Academy; and Woodley Benoit, a junior from Mt. Pleasant High School.
