No Kidding: SPF Student's Comic Heads to Museum, National Contest

junior Chloe Thomas received a big surprise when she opened her email four weeks ago. Thomas found out that the comic she had submitted to the Northern New Jersey Regional Scholastics Art and Writing Contest was awarded a Gold Key, given only to the top 10 percent of submissions from the region.

“I actually don’t check my email too often,” Thomas said. “We were celebrating and then we realized I’d actually gotten the email two days before.” 

The Montclair Art Museum, which is affiliated with the contest, is honoring Gold, Silver and Honorable Mention award-winning students with a display of their work and an awards ceremony. 

“[Thomas’] work is quite sophisticated in its execution,” said Gary Schneider, the museum's director of education. He added that Thomas’ use of line and scale gives a sense of movement and “a cinematic quality.” Schneider explained that a jury of professional artists, curators and art educators reviewed 2,200 works of art submitted by more than 600 students from northern New Jersey before selecting the winners.

Thomas’ comic stars a character of her creation named “Mosh,” who longs to become a hero while daydreaming in class. “It gives inspiration,” Thomas said. “You can be anything.”

In fact, Thomas also entered the contest last year, but her work was not selected. “I was kind of depressed,” she said.

Thomas said her previous story, which included the death of its main character, was perhaps too dark. This year, she made an effort to complete a more upbeat comic, and finished it ahead of time. “I knew I might have done well,” Thomas said, “But I wasn’t really expecting it. I was caught off guard.” 

Comic art describes any type of sequential work, but Thomas, who plans to attend art school, said she’s always been drawn to cartoons. When she decided to enter the contest this year, she said she already had all of the characters – she just needed a story.

“I was pretty surprised I won,” Thomas said. “If you’re trying to find legitimate art contests, this is one of the few.” 

Thomas’ comic, along with other Gold Key award winners, will now be considered for the national level award, which will be decided in March. The award-winning works will be on display at the Montclair Art Museum’s Education Gallery from February 10 through March 6.