Thomas Jackson has been dabbling in art throughout his scholastic career, but the art he creates goes far beyond the drawings, doodles and sketches that the majority of students create in school – Jackson is not just a student who creates art, he is an artist.

Jackson, a senior at Effingham County High School, recently entered a piece of his work in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition and came away with a silver medal.

“This was my first year,” Jackson said on his history with the competition. “I titled my piece ‘Masking Tape’ because that was the subject matter of it.”

Jackson explained that the piece he submitted was not something he created specifically for the competition.

“The piece I submitted was something I had created before the competition,” Jackson said. “I chose to submit it because it was the strongest piece in that area.”

Jackson’s area of entry was Mixed Media, which is art where more than one medium is employed.

His creation was completed in a relativity short amount of time, though tedious work was done to perfect it.

“It took me about three or four class periods,” Jackson said on the length of time it took to complete. “I used pencil, markers, ink and masking tape – masking tape was the main medium.”

Jackson said that while he has been creating art since he was in the early years of elementary school, this school year was the first time he had begun this style of art.

With one silver medal to show already, ‘Masking Tape’ may not be done being entered into competition.

“I think we’re using it for a county art show,” Jackson said. “I don’t think there are any other competitions for it.”

While his experience in art and success at creating award-winning pieces is astounding, Jackson won’t be pursuing a degree in art in college.

“I want to major as an aerospace engineer but I’ll definitely do art as a hobby,” Jackson said on his post-high school plans. “I hope to organize some little get-togethers to do sketches and stuff.”

While his piece was selected for a silver medal in a national competition, Jackson remains humble.

“I was proud about it,” Jackson said. “I felt privileged because a bunch of people have been able to see my ideas.”

The privilege belongs to all of us, too.