Chicagoland 4 by 5, which is hosted every year in November at Oswego High School, showcases small artwork from many talented high school students in the area. It is the largest “small” art competition in the nation.

Students can submit art work in nine different categories: drawing, painting, analog photography, digital photography, relief, sculpture, computer generated imagery, printmaking and a teacher category. North is submitting artwork in four categories.

“We will be submitting drawings, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media,” art teacher Peter Quimby said.

The competition is open to all North students who are in the advanced art classes, and Quimby selects student pieces for the competition.

“PNHS students in Advanced Drawing, Advanced 3D, Painting and AP Studio are submitting art,” Quimby said.

There are 44 Illinois high schools who are registered to participate in the competition.

Many students in the current art classes would like to submit a piece to the competition, but each high school is limited to submitting only 30 pieces for the competition.

Senior Cecelia Yang, a student in AP Studio, submitted a 2D piece in the mixed media category.

“The piece I want to put in is still currently being made,” Yang said. “It’s supposed to be all sorts of medias including collage, having a garden theme.”

The opening reception will showcase all the small art pieces that have been submitted.

On Portfolio Day, the top art and design colleges in the country look through students’ portfolios and critique their work.

“Students are encouraged to arrive early and bring a portfolio of their artwork to be reviewed or critiqued by professors from art institutions and universities,” Quimby said.

Senior Merva Rexhapi, a student in AP Studio, is submitting a watercolor and ink painting, which took a couple of weeks to make.

“I sketched it out in pencil, then went over in watercolor,” Rexhapi said. “Since my pens were waterproof, I could go back over it easily.”

Students participate in the competition because they are excited about the opportunity to show off their artistic ability.

“I want to participate because I love art and enjoy a good challenge,” Yang said.