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Teenage artists are winners in national art competition sponsored by The Great Frame Up®

(JUNE 23, 2012) ST. LOUIS – Two of the nation’s finest high school artists will travel to Santa Monica at the end of June to be recognized as national winners in the Creative Self-Expression contest sponsored by The Great Frame Up, a custom framing and art retailer.

A $2,000 scholarship was presented to each winner by actress and accomplished artist Jane Seymour, spokeswoman for the Creative Self- Expression® Foundation, during a luncheon and awards presentation in Santa Monica.

The national competition, sponsored annually by The Great Frame Up, is designed to cultivate and promote the arts and creative thought among teenagers.

“The Creative Self-Expression Foundation’s goal is to provide high school artists with an opportunity to showcase their talent and express themselves through various mediums,” said Rebecca Hunsel, Marketing Manager for Franchise Concepts, Inc., the national franchisor for The Great Frame Up retail stores.

“The response we received from students across the country was fantastic, and the talent displayed by the participants was extraordinary,” continued Hunsel. “Our judges found these two pieces exceptional, and we are excited to present them with these awards.”

The student artists submitted entries to their local The Great Frame Up store where the art was judged by a panel of local art professionals and displayed for the community. The work of each local finalist was then sent to the national corporate office of Franchise Concepts, Inc., where a panel of judges, including Seymour, selected the two national winners.

The 2012 winners of the Creative Self Expression contest are:

Brendan Byrne - Minnetonka, Minnesota “Wonder” (pencil sketch) Brendan is a recent graduate of Minnetonka High School in Minnetonka, Mn. Brendan said, “I wanted to do a portrait because they're what I'm best at. …When I saw the picture of this little girl, I knew I had to draw her. So I drew her, and instead of selling [the drawing] in [a fundraising] auction, I sold my drawing service, using her as a representation.” Next year, Brendan plans to participate in a student exchange to Japan through a local Rotary Club. After that he intends to attend an art college and pursue studies in animation.

Joann Kim - Northridge, California “Aging” (watercolor, colored pencil and ink) Joann is currently a Junior at Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences in Northridge, Ca. Her inspiration for this work was her very elderly neighbor. “The wrinkles drooping around her eyes and around her face looked as if the weight of her life was drooping down her face. I wanted to draw her and the history of her life through her eyes and wrinkles.” After high school, Joann hopes to attend California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and study character animation.

About Franchise Concepts, Inc.

Franchise Concepts Inc., based in St. Louis, Missouri, is the national franchisor of The Great Frame Up, Deck The Walls, and Framing & Art Centre (Canada) stores. All brands specialize in custom framing and also sell ready-to-hang art, a variety of gift merchandise, and perform professional artistic services such as photo-to-canvas transfers and photo restoration. More information on Franchise Concepts, Inc. and its family of brands is available at www.franchiseconcepts.com.