Glenbard South senior gets another shot at Art of Dairy contest

Wanda taught Tommy Hirsch a lot last year.

First, watch your angles.

Second, know your audience.

Third, don't be afraid to experiment.

With all of that in mind, the Glenbard South High School senior is moving on to Goldie: ambitious art experiment No. 2.

Both are life-size cows that are part of a national competition sponsored by Lucerne called the Art of Dairy. For the second year in a row, Hirsch is one of about 30 artists selected from thousands of high school students who apply.

The challenge: Create an artistic design across the cow that is both accomplished, patriotic and includes a cow. Last year, Hirsch drew Noah's Ark with departing animals, including a pair of cows.

He didn't win the $20,000 grand prize for his school, or the cash prize for himself and his art teacher.

So he scrutinized last year's winners.

He noticed that judges looked for bold, vivid colors, a very dairy design and lots of patriotism.

As soon as last year's contest ended, he started working on a design for this year: "Red, White and Moo."

Betsy Ross is figured prominently on one side sewing the nation's first flag, while Francis Scott Key is sitting in a boat on the opposite side writing the "Star Spangled Banner."

Piece of cake for a cow-decorating veteran, right?

Not so much.

Paint offers brighter hues than colored pencils, Hirsch's medium of choice, but he's only painted twice before.

So he's learning a new medium in the process.

This year's grand prize again is $20,000 for the winning artist's school, and an increased $5,000 cash prize for both the student and teacher. Hirsch, a senior, is hoping his last shot at the prize will net results. The winner will be announced in April.