Upper teen takes art to new levels

Scott Warfel’s re-creation of Dr. Seuss’ Lorax is featured on the Seneca Soil and Water Conservation District’s publicity materials.

Art has been a lifelong passion for 17-year-old Scott Warfel.
“With art, I can express myself and I can show my creativity,” the Upper Sandusky teen said. “I really enjoy being creative and making visions come true. It’s kind of unbelievable when you think of something in your brain and you can create it and just look at it.”
Scott is a son of Gail Warfel, of Upper Sandusky, and Dan Warfel, who lives out of the area. Scott said he got his artistic influence from his mother.
“I’ve been into art since I first started writing,” Scott said. “It’s always been a part of my life. When I was a little kid and I got bored, I would just draw. My mom would always draw, so I would pick things up from her.”
Scott’s artistic talents have received statewide recognition. Scott was the Wyandot County winner in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Scott advanced to the state level in Gov. John Kasich’s art show and in 2011, his acrylic-on-canvas piece won a top prize at the Wyandot County Fair.
“I’m very proud of my son,” Gail Warfel said. “I was big into art when I was in high school too, but I never pursued it as a career. He just amazes  me with some of the things that he does. I’ve got things that he does in art classes displayed all over the walls at home.”
“I am very proud of him and the fact that he uses his talents to benefit the community,” Scott’s sister, Abigail Warfel, added.
Scott helps design sets and props for plays at Upper Sandusky High School, where he will be a senior in the fall. Scott’s most recent creations are being used to deck out area vacation Bible school programs in Upper Sandusky and Carey.
“They usually have the prisoners in Marion (make props for Bible school), but they stopped,” Scott said. “They heard that I was a good artist and they got a hold of me and asked if I would be willing to volunteer my time and I was happy to. It’s an awesome feeling when other people can enjoy your work as much as you do.”
Upper Sandusky’s First Lutheran Church used Scott’s work during their vacation Bible school earlier this week.
“We just gave him pictures and told him what we wanted and he produced them for us,” Bible school organizer Janine McMillan said. “He did it all for free and we just gave him the material and photos of what we wanted and he went from there. He’s phenomenal and his painting looks so professional.”
Seneca Soil and Water Conversation District soon will be using Scott’s re-creation of Dr. Seuss’ Lorax on its publicity items.
“He designed a large Lorax that’s going to be used during family activities and different educational programs in the schools,” Seneca SWCD Program Administrator Tia Rice said. “He made a 4-foot Lorax that the kids will have an opportunity to take pictures with. Since our business is centered around conservation efforts, the Lorax is a great resource to promote that. He also updated the T-shirt design that we will be using to promote our program.”
Scott also designed a replica of President Warren Harding’s White House pet terrier Laddie Boy. Cut-outs of Laddie Boy were distributed to all second-grade students in Marion County and Upper Sandusky schools.
Scott plans to study graphic design in college.

By CHANDA NEELY
City editor

Posted by Daily Chief on June 30, 2012. Filed under Local News,Recent Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry