The Daily Gazette has announced the winners of its annual holiday coloring contest, highlighting the creativity of young artists from the region. The contest drew submissions from various age groups, with winners selected from the Leader-Herald and Recorder publications, as well as the Register-Star and Daily Mail.
Celebrating Young Talent
This year’s winners include Mia Lopez, age 7, from Amsterdam, and Savannah Retersdorf, age 9, from Mayfield, who topped the 8-year-old-and-under and 9- to 12-year-old categories, respectively. Leyland Brodowski, age 11, from Catskill, emerged as the winner for the Register-Star and Daily Mail.
In the Daily Gazette’s contest, Grace Shillito, age 10, from Burnt Hills, and Mackenzie Durocher, age 8, from Schenectady, took home prizes in their respective age groups. Grace Shillito continued a family legacy of artistic achievement, having outperformed her sister, Lillian, who won the younger category in 2024. The Shillito family entered four siblings this year, including their older sister, Lydia, who claimed victory in the Fourth of July contest in 2024.
Creative Inspirations and Techniques
“This year they all came up with ideas,” said their father, Art Shillito. “They did all the coloring on their own. I didn’t tell them to spend time coloring; the girls were all excited.” Grace’s winning entry featured a primary coloring option designed by award-winning illustrator Anthony Richichi. Her creative enhancements included a banner behind the Douglas fir trees, positioned next to a snowman being built by two children and the Gazette mascot, Newsie.
“I wanted to put a banner up,” Grace explained during a phone interview. “When we go to the tree farm, you see a banner. My sister Lydia helped with the idea.” She ensured that Newsie was kept warm in her scene by adding a scarf, a thoughtful detail that enhanced her submission. Grace also added elements like an ice castle and Santa with his reindeer in the sky, demonstrating her imaginative flair.
Mackenzie Durocher followed in her family’s artistic footsteps, having seen her sister, Abby, win last year in the older age group. Mackenzie decorated Newsie as a red-and-white candy cane, complete with a green-and-red scarf. “I got a little bit of ideas from my dad,” she shared on Christmas Eve. “The mittens, that was me.” She creatively depicted a sled below the decorators in her illustration, showcasing her attention to detail.
Entries were published across the Gazette News Group platforms in late November and were available for download on the Daily Gazette website. Each winner will receive $50 from the Gazette News Group, and all entries will be credited on the website, celebrating the young artists’ hard work.
Brodowski, who attends Catskill Middle School, utilized both markers and pencils in his colorful submission. “I used the pencil to shade in some things and make darker colors,” he said. His artwork captured a snowman-making scene during the golden hour, featuring a vibrant late-afternoon sky.
Retersdorf aimed for a classic winter holiday theme in her entry. “I used colored pencils for most of it, but white crayon to add more white to the snowman,” she explained. “I didn’t want the gray from the newspaper in the snowman.” She also carefully incorporated red and green into Newsie’s design, reflecting her family’s enthusiasm for the Christmas season.
The Daily Gazette’s holiday coloring contest not only showcases the artistic talent of young individuals but also fosters a sense of community and festive spirit among families. The engaging entries and creative expressions highlight the importance of encouraging artistic endeavors among children in the region.
