Skaneateles artist wins poster contest, State Fair Award

BY Jason Gabak

Editor

Mary Lambdin has always enjoyed drawing and art in general, though it is a talent she didn’t really begin to develop until she entered high school.

“I always liked art,” Lambdin said. “But I didn’t really get into it until I was in ninth grade. My art teacher told me that I had talent and really encouraged me to pursue it more.”

This paid off.

Lambdin, who will be entering her senior year this fall was recently announced as the winner of the for the annual poster contest for Art in the Park.

The event, featuring work from artists across the Finger Lakes region is hosted by the Finger Lakes Art Council and will be held in Hoopes Park in Auburn on Sept. 17.

Lambdin’s work will be featured on the posters and advertising for the event.

Lambdin was up against students artists from across the region.

To earn the opportunity to have her work on the posters, selected from a field of other talented artists was an exciting experience for Lambdin.

“It is very nice,” Lambdin said. “It was very unexpected. But it is definitely exciting. It is really nice to have something I made picked to be on the posters.”

Lambdin said her art teacher submitted her work for consideration.

“I’m glad she did,” Lambdin said. “It is really exciting.”

Her piece depicts a male face wearing sunglasses and focuses in on the reflection seen in the sunglasses.

It incorporates many aspects of how Lambdin sees her work.

“I like to use bright vivid colors,” Lambdin said. “I was inspired by a picture I took of my boyfriend and just used a lot of bright vivid colors.”

It is the reflection in the sunglasses that Lambdin is most proud of in this particular piece.

“I’ve done things with the reflection in them before,” Lambdin said. “But I think it really came out well in this piece. I like that there is kind of a psychedelic look to it.”

Artists like Alex Grey and Laurence Kaufman are among those Lambdin has been influenced by.

These artists combine highly detailed works with vivid colors and imagery.

“I like that they use a lot of color and there is that sort of psychedelic appearance,” Lambdin said.

Lambdin hopes to put her skills to work in a professional capacity some day.

She said there are two paths that she is currently interested in pursuing.

Lambdin is interested in both medical illustration and tattooing.

“I like doing drawing of all the veins and parts of the body,” Lambdin said. “There is a lot going on, a lot of vivid colors and details. I am also interested in tattooing. It would be interesting to work with skin as a canvas. Maybe that is something I will do on the side someday, but it is really interesting to me.”

Lambdin also has a passion for music as well as art and chemistry and the humanities.

She plans to pursue chemistry in college while minoring in art.

Her art teacher, Jessica Sawchuk said she believes Lambdin has a great deal of talent and winning the poster contest demonstrates that.

“Having Mary as a student is inspiring,” Sawchuk said. “This past year she took independent study and was very dedicated to coming in each day in order to finish her work. I am proud of her focus and drive. Mary has a unique perspective and vision, and it is wonderful to see her always expanding upon them.”

Lambdin’s piece also garnered an award at the New York State Fair.