Cherry Chase’s Ella Cheng young artist to watch

It doesn’t matter where she is, or what materials she has on hand, Cherry Chase third-grader Ella Cheng will find a way to make art.

At a dim sum restaurant, she once used soy sauce and hot mustard to make a smiling sunshine. Another time, at her brother’s tennis practice, she used tennis balls to make a heart and other shapes.

“She just loves drawing,” said her mom, Cindy Liu. “The creative side of her is always on.”

Ella makes sure to bring her backpack with her coloring pencils and sketchbook everywhere she goes. Which is why her mom decided to look into art competitions and opportunities to draw.

Just these past two months, she landed first honors for a drawing contest with the Santa Clara County Office of Education for the National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month – Celebrating Language & Culture. Her piece, called Wǒ De Míng Zì Shì Ella (Meaning in Chinese is: My name is Ella), featured her Chinese zodiac, the ox.

For the Santa Clara County Office of Education Young Artist Showcase, she landed first honors again for the drawing contest called Your Art, Your Story. She called her piece, “What I Love To Do” and continued the theme of using her Chinese zodiac, the ox, only this time the ox was performing her favorite things: drawing, eating sushi, sleeping, reading and riding her scooter.

“It was really surprising,” Ella said about finding out she had won. She also happened to be the only student from the district out of more than 100 students from 20 school districts within Santa Clara County submitting their artwork. “I was very excited.”

When asked about what she likes most about art is that you can decorate ordinary things and make them your own.

“The pool of artwork this year was absolutely incredible,” said Jeannine Flores, Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator for the SCCOE. “Each year, I am blown away by the creativity and pure talent expressed by Santa Clara County students. Thank you to the parents, teachers, principals, and leaders who encourage our students to express themselves with authenticity.”

Ella donated her piece to The Young Artist Showcase Gallery within the SCCOE, which is the largest collection of adjudicated student artwork in California with over 900 pieces.

Also, in the month of May, Ella placed 3rd for her grade category (2nd & 3rd Grade) for the City Of Sunnyvale Earth Day poster contest.  In past years, she has won the drawing contest for yearbook covers. She has also entered the IKEA soft toy drawing contest in 2017 as well as this year’s Doodle for Google drawing contest.

“Her dad and I are extremely proud of her!” Liu said.

Article written by District Communications Coordinator Alia Wilson.