Profiles
Top 100: Arts & Crafts Division
#1: Alicia and David Templin, Arlington, TX
By Lori B. Murray
Imagine entering a contest where the odds are 72,000 to 1. Then suppose
that after beating the odds and discovering you are the winner, you learn
that your brother is a winner, too. That's exactly what happened this past
summer when Alicia Templin, 15, and her brother, David, 13, both won the
1999 Expressions from Hallmark and Crayola® Kids Card Contest.
"It's very unusual that two people from the same family were chosen," says Alicia. "They never had a brother-sister winner before." Alicia and David each won $1,000, along with a trip to Kansas City, MO and Easton, PA for a tour of the Hallmark and Crayola facilities.
Today their winning greeting cards are on sale in grocery stores and Hallmark shops around the country. What's it like to walk in a store and see the greeting card you created for sale? "It's like a dream. It doesn't seem real," says Alicia.
Artistic Earnings
Entering — and winning — art contests continues to be a major part
of David and Alicia's earnings as artists, along with work at children's
parties and their newest endeavor — illustrating wedding videos. Last
year Alicia and David earned a combined average weekly income of $250.
The brother-sister team charges $50 for carnivals and parties where they teach clay and face painting. But recently they illustrated their first wedding video that included several pictures of the bride and groom in their youth. They each earned $350 for that effort and it was a lot of fun, says Alicia.
While their goal is to save most of their earnings for college, they also spend some of their money and tithe 10 percent to their church. The artistic duo continues to reap the rewards of winning art contests as well. Two years ago, Alicia was the reserve grand champion winner at the Fort Worth Stock Show Art Contest, while David earned first place in his age category. This past year, Alicia placed fifth in her age category, while David earned another first place in his age group for his picture of a cowboy riding a hog.
A Family Affair
For David and Alicia, art has always been part of their lives. Their
parents are graphic designers who create children's menus for restaurants,
along with running an art school for children. Occasionally, David and
Alicia teach classes at the school that is located in their home.
While both brother and sister admit that finding enough time for their artwork is sometimes a challenge, they continue to support each other in many ways. "We are always there for each other," says Alicia. In fact, before entering a contest, the two often brainstorm ideas together, offering advice and support. David agrees that there are never any problems getting along. "When we work at parties together, I do the face painting and clay, and she does the caricatures." Maybe it works so well because they have developed individual strengths. "I enjoy making the videos more than she does," says David, adding that his sister leans toward the artistic style of her idol, artist Mary Engelbreit.
As for the future, Alicia says they hope to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. David, who loves clay animation and painting, is focused on a possible career in claymation. Alicia's goal is to become an illustrator, primarily of children's books, calendars, and greeting cards.
With success already knocking on their door, few would argue that this brother-sister art team faces extremely good odds of enjoying a career in art.