Middle school students embrace their artistic legacy

Middle school art teacher Heather Shields wants her students to appreciate their “artistic legacy.” She reminds them that Tony Moore and Robert Kirkman, creators of the original “Walking Dead” comic book, once sat where they sit.

So did Harrison County’s most recent artist-of-note, Wylie Caudill.

Shields wants to convey to her students that “You can achieve a lot of great things, doing what you love.”

Caudill first drew attention while he was a student at Eastern Kentucky University. His vivid murals of Pokemon created media attention and launched what turned into a whirlwind career.

He’s become sought after as a mural painter. Several Cynthiana landmarks are graced with his earliest works.

This year, Caudill had the honor of creating the artwork for the 150th Kentucky Derby as well as for Woodford Reserve’s 2024 Kentucky Derby Bottle.

His signature roses adorn both works.

Those roses inspired a project for Shields’ budding artists. Roses in Caudill’s style adorn a long banner that hangs above the lockers and stretches down the hall from the art room door.

A second banner of roses is in the works and will hang above the showcases between the band room and the art room.

Students are also creating individual pictures incorporating the roses.

They’ve been talking about the Kentucky Derby in class, Shields said, “but some of them are ‘My Little Pony.’ ”