Charles Henderson High School senior William Schrieber has been awarded the Troy Arts Council’s 2013 Jean Lake Scholarship.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a local art student who has excelled in the arts and plans to pursue his or her artistic interests on the college level.

Schrieber said he is honored to have been chosen the 2013 Jean Lake Scholarship recipient.

“I appreciate the confidence the Troy Arts Council has placed in me,” he said. “This is a real honor.”

Pam Smith, CHHS art teacher, said the Jean Lake Scholarship is awarded based on artwork submitted for consideration.

“The applicants submit five concentration or theme pieces and five varied pieces,” she said. “The recipient of the Jean Lake Scholarship is selected by local judges based on their submissions.”

The $2,000 scholarship is awarded over a two-year period at $500 a semester when the recipient is enrolled in an art class.

“William is a four-year art student and an AP art student as well,” Smith said. “He is what I call a ‘dream student.’ William really ‘gets it.’ His artwork shows originality, feeling and deep emotion. He is outwardly shy but his artwork is very expressive.

William’s main focus is portraits and those who view his artwork know immediately the feeling, the emotion, of his work.”

Schrieber said, with a smile, that he is “different” in his approach to capturing people on “canvas.”

“My portraits are more abstract,” he said. “I like using different colors and different textures.”

For example, in Schrieber’s portrait titled, “Feminine Ink,” the tattoo was used as background, not as a body modification.

In another of his concentration pieces, Schrieber used lace and spray paint to create the background. Using only a portion of his subject’s face, he was able to create a feeling of youthful exuberance.

Schrieber inherited his artist bent from his grandmother, Mora Radford, who is an artist her own right.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a pencil in my hand,” Schrieber said. “My grandmother influenced me and encourage me. She has been my inspiration. I got my interest in art and my talent from her.”

Schrieber said that his future plans are not definite, although he is leaning toward graphic design.

However, the path he will take is charted.

“I plan to go to Troy University and then to Savannah College of Art and Design,” he said. “SCAD is a highly rated arts college and I want to be challenged.”

Smith said that Schrieber will be up to any challenges before him. “He’s just that kind of young man.”