ROCKWALL, TX. . . Congressman Ralph M. Hall recently invited high school students throughout the 4th Texas District to compete in the 2011 Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition is comprised of sixteen counties and over ninety high schools, with the winner of the competition having their artwork displayed for a year in the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.

            Congressman Hall is pleased to announce that the 2011 winner for the 4th District of Texas is Ryan Villarma, a sixteen-year-old sophomore at Greenville High School.  Ryan’s winning piece, “Hidden World”, is a “self portrait woven together with a depiction of the bottom of the ocean” done in pencil and colored pencil. 

            Villarma, whose parents are also both artists, said he has enjoyed drawing and making things for as long as he can remember. He cites artists Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher and Rene Magritte as being particularly inspiration to his work. "I also look at miscellaneous artists on the internet. Seeing how those artists use certain techniques for expression helps me know how to show my own expression." 

            Darla Abrego, the art teacher at Greenville High School, said, "Ryan is a natural talent, and his self-portrait depicts him perfectly.  On the outside Ryan is very quiet and pensive.  He appears very introspective and somewhat serious.  But, once you get to know Ryan you learn that he is full of personality!  He is intelligent and very witty.  His creativity and skill always astound me and I look forward to seeing what Ryan will create in the future."

            The annual Congressional Art Competition, first launched in 1982, gives students a rare and unique opportunity to share their talent with the thousands of visitors who come to our nation’s capital.  The winning student receives two round-trip airline tickets to Washington, DC and an invitation to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the U.S. Capitol for winners from across the nation.

            For more information or to receive competition guidelines for next year’s competition, contact Natalie Raulston in Congressman Hall’s Rockwall office at 972-771-9118.