NATCHEZ — Local student-artists recently showed their love for the area in an art contest.

The Natchez Art Association hosted a Miss-Lou Student Art Contest in March. The theme was “Natchez in View.”

The first place winner was Taylor Littleton, a 16-year-old Wilkinson County Christian Academy junior, who created a collage called “Night and Day.”

“I’m just glad I had the opportunity to enter,” she said. “Art has been a blast this year.”

Coming in first place caught Littleton by surprise.

“I was extremely happy,” Littleton said. “I was actually not able to attend, but when I got a phone call from my art teacher I was so excited I ended up hanging up on her.

“I had to call her back to get all of the details.”

A Woodville resident, Littleton said she spent approximately 25 hours working on the piece.

“It was a mosaic collage that I had done for school, and it was probably the hardest piece I worked on,” Littleton said. “I found a piece of paper with a whole lot of diamonds and I made the sun. The lady I cut out looked like the sunset was on her mind, so I put her looking at my sunset.”

Littleton said she has always enjoyed drawing, but this was her first year in an art class. She plans to become an architect one day.

“I have sketchbook piled upon sketchbook at my house,” she said. “When I work on art, it makes me happy and keeps me focused.

“I like the challenge and not knowing how it is going to work out. You have to work hard on it, and it is fun to see what comes out.”

The second place winner was Carolyn Mullins, an 18-year-old senior at Trinity Episcopal Day School, who created a charcoal portrait called “Maya.”

“I love people’s faces — everyone is unique and a face tells a lot about a person,” Mullins said. “I found a picture of this girl I liked, and I decided to just draw her.”

Mullins said her dad, William Mullins, taught her how to draw.

“He taught me how to draw when I was tiny,” she said. “Art has just been something I have always done.”

Mullins said art has changed her thought process.

“Whenever I am given a project, I think, what can I do different, what twist can I try?” she said.

Trinity classmates often ask Mullins to draw their portraits, she said.

“Portraits make great graduation gifts,” Mullins said. “I doodle random pictures off and on during class, a lot of the people don’t know I draw them.

“My friends like my portraits of them, and it is a fun thing to do for them.”

Mullins, a Roxie resident, has her sights set on New York City and Parsons The New School for Design, where she plans to become a fashion designer.

“I always knew I would do something creative and after leaving middle school, I said I wanted to be a fashion designer,” Mullins said. “People said it wouldn’t last, but I never changed my mind.”

Third place went to Lilly Smith, a 14-year-old WCCA student, for creating a tempera painting titled “Page 14.”

Honorable mentions went to Joseph McClatchy, Trei Parker, Hannah Vines and Abby Givens.

Cash prizes for first place was $300, $200 for second place and $100 for third. Four honorable mentions received $10.

Littleton said she put her prize money toward a summer trip she is planning to Paris.

“I’m hoping Europe will inspire some artwork,” Littleton said. “I’m going to the Louvre; I can’t wait!”

Participating schools were Adams County Christian School, Wilkinson County Christian Academy, Vidalia High School, Ferriday High School and Trinity Episcopal Day School.

The 27 entries will be on display at the James Andrews House on Canal Street until Sunday.

Littleton’s parents are Laura and David Littleton.

Mullins’ parents are William and Fran Mullins.

“We are so appreciative of all of the sponsors that help make this possible, and all of the hard work of the Natchez Art Association members,” NAA President Brenda Hicks said.