August, 2000
Liane Klein

Pruett entered two pieces, a watercolor painting of a forest and a pastel painting of an alley cat looking at a fishbowl. Both pieces were remarkable enough to earn her first place.

"I feel excited. It was very difficult for me to choose which two paintings I should enter," Pruett said.

More than 100 artists entered the competition, but Pruett's knack for painting allowed her to surpass numerous other artists.

"When I started breathing again after we found out that she won I was so proud and so happy for her." said Pruett's mother, Christine.

Pruett plans to enter the L.A. County Fair art contest again next year. "It is going to be more of a challenge for me because I am going to enter the pre-teen category."

Born with a talent for art, the young aspiring artist enjoys painting pictures of animals and landscapes.

After Pruett demonstrated an appetite to create and learn art, her parents enrolled her at Larry Gluck's Mission: Renaissance art center in Valencia two years ago.

"I like the fact that my daughter is involved in art, it provides her with an outlet. The art class gives her a lot of self-esteem. I feel that it is super important that kids are allowed to create, it gives them the feeling that they can go out and do anything," said Christine.

Pruett attends a one-and-a-half hour children's art course once a week at Mission: Renaissance which focuses on providing self-esteem and bringing out creativity.

"What she is learning here is the basics of fine art," said art teacher Liz Schoenfeld. "Kids learn the fundamentals and then apply their creativity to the paintings they create. I am very proud of Breanna. We are proud of all our students when they win contests, but more importantly we are proud of them everyday," said Schoenfeld.

Mission: Renaissance teaches children ages 5-12 as well as adults. For more information about Mission: Renaissance call: (800) 430-4ART.
 

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