Finalist
General Ragin is a man I have known for over twenty years. He works as an attendant in the parking lot I use near my home. I witnessed firsthand how the birth of his daughter Syntonia instantly transformed his world. She was a gorgeous baby and lit up his life. I knew from the time she was an infant that I wanted to make a portrait of her. When she was three-and-a-half years old, I attempted to have her pose for me; however, she could not sit still. I watched her grow up, waiting until she was old enough to pose for me again. Finally, when she turned sixteen, she returned to my studio. My sculpture General’s Daughter captures that special moment when she changed from a young girl to a young adult. The experience has resonated with Syntonia and inspired her admiration of art.