On Saturday, December 3rd, Yiling Cao was awarded first place for her acrylic painting Urban Sunset at the Congressional Art Competition in Marshall.

When Cao was in Austin with her friend, they were enjoying themselves at a local coffee shop and when her friend snapped a picture of a street view, she was inspired.

“When I was looking at the sunlight, I liked how the building is a reflection of the sky’s color, so I painted the background white, so it contrasts with all the color I used,” Cao explained. “I used the color balance to create a warm feeling. When people look at this painting, I want them to feel the sunlight, and I want them to be happy.”

Her favorite parts of this painting are the sunlight’s reflection on the table and the tortilla and coffee.

“Of course, first of all, I’m proud of it, but I feel like I need to work more,” Cao said.

Cao’s Art teacher, Suzanne Shelton, is excited for Yiling and for what this award will do for the Visual Arts department at Brook Hill.

“With each cool thing that happens, it’s just one more building break in the Fine Arts department and the Visual Arts especially,” Shelton said. “Yiling is a brilliant girl. I’ve not seen many students work harder than Yiling, and I just think she was very deserving of it.”

Her painting will be on display at Brook Hill until it is shipped to Washington D.C. in March. The painting will be on display for a year in the Government office of Congressman Louie Gohmert on Capitol Hill.