Morgan Banks has been drawing ever since she could pick up a pencil. But applying for a mentorship program helped take her art to the next level.

Last year, The Summit Foundation created a mentor program for five Summit High School students as a way to celebrate the Mountain Art Gathering's 10th year at Keystone Resort. The school program was so successful, The Summit Foundation decided to continue it, this time with three students, due to booth space and costs, said volunteer Kate Hudnut.

Banks and about 10 other students applied for the mentorship in January. A jury of local artists chose her, Molly Allen and Chelsea Slack to participate.

Banks has been using a pencil and paper to draw her elaborate work, but she just started creating more unique, professional-looking illustrations by using an X--Acto knife on scratch board. Her mentors, oil painter Amy Evans and illustrator Lisa Rivard, helped Banks by giving her suggestions, such as adding detailed roots to trees or creating more twisted, expressive pieces. Banks' fantastical illustrations are expressions of her own personality and feelings. For example, an energetic drawing of a woman with fiery lines shooting out of her back as she walks on a swirling surface portrays frustration and compression Banks was feeling at the time, which transformed into expression.

“(Last year), students gained a lot of respect for the process and pride in their work,” said Summit High School art teacher Kim Giese. “The kids last year inspired kids this year ... to produce high-quality (pieces).”

Banks and Allen just graduated, whereas Slack will be a senior this upcoming school year.

Photography mentor

Local photographer and gallery owner Todd Powell mentored Allen, who will major in photography in the fall.

“He helped me figure out pricing, because I wouldn't even know where to start,” Allen said. “And he taught me how to be positive and have a good attitude toward selling and how to arrange (photos) in the order that would look good.”

To showcase her work, Allen must narrow her photos from 50 to 25 or 30 and said she “wouldn't even know where to start without him.”

Slack has taken pottery classes for five semesters, and her local mentor is Michelle Woods, ceramics teacher at Colorado Mountain College. Slack hopes to build a career in ceramics, and she said the mentor program is giving her a head start in learning how to present and sell as a professional artist.

Meanwhile, mentors are getting a lot out of volunteering.

“Any time you teach something, you learn something,” Powell said. “It forces you to think more, because as an artist you just do it subconsciously.”

He believes it's important for budding artists to learn about the business of selling and marketing early, because it's a solid skill, as opposed to art, which evolves and matures over the years.

“At this level, the more professional exposure they can get, the better,” said Summit High School art teacher Sharon Speedy. “It's also such a confidence booster and level of pride to have your art in the public eye.”

BJ Briner, Kent Harris and Chris Dahl-Berdine are also acting as mentors for the students through e-mail. They will present their artwork, along with the students, at the Mountain Art Gathering, July 24-26, at Keystone.