By Jeff Peters
Catholic Herald correspondent

Grantsburg teen wins national competition

GRANTSBURG -- Using her God-given artistic talents to the fullest, 17-year-old Kerissa Nelson recently won the 2005 National Junior Duck Stamp competition for her painting of a pair of ring-necked ducks.

Nelson, a member of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Grantsburg, said, "God gave me these talents, I just put them to use. That's the biggest part of winning this award."

Competing against junior artists from across the country, Nelson also credited her Grantsburg High School art teacher, Bruce Teigen, for her success.

"He thought I had the potential to enter the competition. He knew I had talent and helped shape that talent," Nelson said. "He's been the biggest influence on my art.

"It took me about six months to finish the painting. I used a series of photographs to draw the painting. You use the photos to match and blend the colors in the painting. There are countless colors in the painting, but that's what you have to do to make the painting realistic."

Nelson, who started drawing in kindergarten, said she also receives a $5,000 college scholarship for winning the competition. She plans to attend the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., this fall.

"I really like the feel of the campus and plan on majoring in health information management, with a minor in art," she said, noting her sister Tera, 19, also attends St. Scholastica.

Nelson's mother, Kerri, a life-long member of Immaculate Conception, said winning the contest has been an exciting experience for their entire family. "We are really having a good time. Kerissa is enjoying the limelight and handling it all very well," Kerri Nelson said.

She said the parish and community of Grantsburg have been very supportive of Kerissa. "They've been very excited about the award ... we've been a little blown away by all of this."

She also had high praise for Kerissa Nelson's art teacher. "He actually discovered her talent and encouraged her to enter the National Junior Duck Stamp contest. He said he had a 'good feeling' about this year's work," Kerri Nelson said.

Last year as a junior in high school, Kerissa Nelson also entered the contest and was runner-up at the state level with a painting of green-winged teals.

This year as a senior in high school her entry won Best of Show in Wisconsin, automatically entering her in the national competition. Kerissa Nelson said, "I was surprised when I found out I won because I thought the judging was already over."

As another award for winning the contest, Kerissa Nelson's painting will be made into a duck stamp for purchase by collector's. She, along withh her mother, her father, Tony, and her art teacher, will be flown to Washington, D.C., on June 29 for an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill.

The all expense paid trip will also include visits with Congressman Dave Obey and U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl. Kerissa Nelson will also join the Federal Duck Stamp winner for a duck stamp signing session during the ceremony sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Service.

There are also plans in the works to have a duck stamp autograph session in Grantsburg and a showing of her work during nearby Siren's Summer Fest Days on August 5-7.

Kerissa Nelson, who is an altar server and teaches religious education classes, takes it all in stride. "I want to keep my art fun. I didn't make art my major in college because I wanted to keep it fun for me and to make sure it doesn't become a hassle. I want to take it one step at a time."

She said the continued support from her family, friends, community and parish makes it all the more special. "Everyone has been very excited for me and that's what makes it so great."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005