Zach Seger.
Not only was New Canaan High School award-winning artist Zachary Seger’s career path established early in life, so too was his steely determination, forceful attitude and uniquely creative mind.
The first two parts of that trifecta came in pre-school, when he was scolded for spending too much time drawing.
“I got in trouble with the principal, who had a folder of pictures that were all mine,” said Seger, 18. “I remember I would keep drawing as she was talking to me about what I did wrong.”
His talent was apparent in kindergarten.
“Zach’s teacher told me that he’s really, really artistic,” recalled his mom, Alison. “I was like, ‘okay…’ She said, ‘No, no, no. I always have kids draw pictures of the school. In all my years of teaching art, Zach’s was the first one done in 3D.’
“So that was the first indication that his art didn’t come from what he saw, from external things. It came from inside his head.”
Well, he’s on quite a head-trip now.
Seger has earned national recognition in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2015, with a Silver Medal with Distinction for his art portfolio. Since 1923, the awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of America’s youth.
Seger was identified by panels of creative professionals as one of the most gifted young artists in the nation. The jurors felt that his work best exemplified the core judging criteria of originality, technical skill and emergence of a personal vision. A Portfolio Silver Medal with Distinction includes a $1,000 scholarship to support education and creative development.
This year, over 300,000 works of art and writing were submitted, and just 16 artists received a Silver Medal with Distinction or a Gold Medal for an art portfolio at the national level.
By winning a Scholastic Art & Writing Award, Seger joins a legacy of celebrated artists and authors, such as Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Ken Burns and Lena Dunham.
Seger studies AP art in Jeanne McDonagh’s class. He earned his award with a portfolio of surrealistic art which will be on exhibit in the upcoming 28th Annual Senior Art Show, Level Up, April 23-June 8 at NCHS.
“He’s very gifted, and he goes above and beyond what you expect,” said McDonagh, who has taught art at NCHS for 28 years. “It’s a creative adventure, for the teacher, too.”
Seger’s work is primarily digital, working on a computer combining pictures with various lighting effects. “I do a lot of photography, graphic design and Photoshop,” he said. “With computers it’s a new age in art, something different being explored.
“I’ll see something normal like a flower and think it would be cool to change that into something else. It’s spontaneous. About 75% of my creating is on computer. I do a little painting too, but don’t like how messy it is. I also do a lot of pen drawings.”
Seger has recently had some amazing achievements. In addition to the Scholastic award, he just got a $40,000 Art Merit scholarship to Bucknell University, which he will attend in the fall. He was also awarded, but will not accept, an $84,000 art scholarship from the University of Hartford.
In the last few years his work captured first prize in the Carriage Barn photography show, and Stamford Art Association High School Scholarship show.
Eye ordeal threatened future
An accomplished athlete as well as an artist, Seger faced an uncertain future when out of nowhere he faced a crisis with his right eye.
He’d been on the NCHS varsity soccer team since sophomore year, as well as playing lacrosse. During a soccer game last year, he suddenly lost the ability to focus with the eye.
“I looked down at the ball and it was blurry,” he said. “I went to an eye doctor, who referred me to a retina specialist. At that point I could not even read the big ‘E’ on the eye chart.”
Seger was diagnosed with vitreomacular traction, in which something unknown, but usually age, causes the vitreous of the eye to pull away from the retina. It mostly occurs to people over age 70.
Surgery was required. From being perfectly healthy, a sports star and emerging artist, Seger found himself in a frightening situation at 17.
“I was confused and scared,” he admitted. “Eyes are so complex. After the surgery they put a gas bubble in my eye to press against the hole, and I had to stay face down for three weeks. I drank everything with a straw, slept face down on a massage bed with a hole for my head, and the little walking around I did I had to look down.
“I didn’t go to school for three weeks, and after the surgery it was like looking through a really dirty fish tank with algae.”
Thankfully Seger recovered fully, and has his 20/20 vision back.
“Art had been Zach’s hobby before the eye situation,” said his mom. “After it he decided to focus on it much more, and it’s amazing how things have progressed. What he went through was scary, but this is the silver lining.”
Seger’s proficiency with computer programs has helped him create what his mind envisions.
“I teach the digital art program,” said McDonagh, who had guided Seger for all four high school years. “He has always taken assignments to a higher level, inventing things on his own. He’s taught himself advanced computer programs.”
Some of those include Adobe After Effects (motion graphics), Autodesk Maya (3D animation), Bank You Very Much (graphic design contests) and Cinema 4D (3D animation).
While his computer art is stunning, Seger’s hand-drawn images are also fascinating to behold.
“I’ve taken classes in figure drawing, nudes and charcoal drawing,” he said. “It’s kinda cool learning new things and doing new stuff.”
His mom concurs.
“Seriously, you should see his planners,” she said. “He never writes down what homework he has but the pages are filled with strange characters. It is fascinating to watch him draw. I don’t know where the visions come from but they seem to flow effortlessly from his pen and come to life on the paper.”
Bucknell beckons
Continuing his art and education at Bucknell is an exciting prospect for Seger, who was thrilled to receive the scholarship there. He had to earn it with a presentation that initially worried him.
“I applied for it, and kept them aware that I was winning some other things,” he said. “I had to go there and present my portfolio of work to the art faculty. It was scary at first, but they were relaxed interviews. Since I had early-decisioned there and was accepted, the scholarship was a bonus.”
His mother is even more excited about it.
“Zach is part of a ‘blended’ family,” she said. “Seven kids, seven college educations. So every little thing helps.
The plan for Seger is to major in art while also studying marketing, branding and advertising. “He can do anything with his skill set,” said McDonagh. “With his creative ability, marketing could be a good fit. He has the ability to be self directed. He’s exceptional in that way.”
Seger, who has lived in New Canaan his whole life, is unfazed by the attention and plaudits. Laid back and calm, he’s happy with where he is in life and plans to move forward at his own pace.
“Pressure? Not really,” he said when asked if he feels it a challenge to top himself. “I’m just going to continue to have fun with it. See where the art goes.”
More info: zseger.com; 203-705-9472.