The future of creativity

Grace Sublett, Style & Culture WriterDecember 11, 2018

SENIOR+Quintin+Cooks%E2%80%99s+National+Scholastics+portfolio+features+a+series+of++Zak+Essakalli%2C+%E2%80%9821%2C+sitting+throughout+the+city.+By+having+him+keep+a+consistent+pose%2C+Cooks+showed+even+though+one%E2%80%99s+environment+changes%2C+they+always+have+support.+

SENIOR Quintin Cooks’s National Scholastics portfolio features a series of Zak Essakalli, ‘21, sitting throughout the city. By having him keep a consistent pose, Cooks showed even though one’s environment changes, they always have support.

The National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards allow students to compete for up to $10,000 in scholarships. SENIOR Quintin Cooks has been endlessly working the past few weeks in order to get his portfolio to award-winning standards.
Cooks and other AP Art seniors are expected to brainstorm and create at least eight award-worthy pieces and submit them to the Portfolio Awards by Dec. 12. Cooks is one of the many photography-focused AP Art students, while others work with painting, drawing and sculpture within their portfolios.
“I definitely procrastinated a little, but at the end it worked out,” Cooks said. After sitting down with Zak Essakalli, ‘21, Cooks was able to work out his entire portfolio in just three days.
In order to perfect his portfolio, Cooks has been experimenting with various types of concentrations to find which style of photography suits him best. “Prior to the series with Zak, I did a few racial discrimination pieces. I really wanted to make an impact with what I was doing, so I thought of different types of people today who are discriminated and judged just because of things like the color of their skin or their sexual orientation. However, when I went out to shoot, I didn’t get the powerful effect I expected,” Cooks said.
After all the trials, Cooks finalized his National Scholastic portfolio to be a series of photos throughout the city. “I think the main message I want to display with this series is that regardless of the change or difference that occurs in one’s life, there will always be a constant (the stool in every picture) that sticks with them through everything as a support system. This could be your best friend, your pet, your family, etc.,” Cooks said.
With thousands of dollars up for grabs and college around the corner, Cooks, as well as most AP Art seniors, is hoping to be one of the lucky artists who is awarded a scholarship. “Knowing that National Scholastics enjoyed my work so much to the extent of offering a scholarship would be unreal,” Cooks said.
Cooks and other competing students will hear back from the Regional Awards on Jan. 10 and from National Awards on March 12.