Lilly and Lexie Krause, twin sisters, earned first and second place in pencil/charcoal at ArtEx this year. Lilly took first place and Lexie took second.
Lilly and Lexie Krause, twin sisters, earned first and second place in pencil/charcoal at ArtEx this year. Lilly took first place and Lexie took second.
Lexie has been drawing since she could hold a pencil.
“To most kids at that age, art was just a fun activity. To me, it was always so much more. My love for creating and storytelling only grew as I got older. I started to take it more seriously when I started high school. I started doing personal studies and taught myself new skills,” Lexie says.
Lilly is self-taught.
“For as long as I can remember, I have loved to draw and paint. And in 2018 (11 years old), I got my first iPad and Apple Pencil as a gift. From that point on, I started practicing digital art regularly — using Procreate. The skills I picked up from starting digital art have helped me to become a better traditional artist as well,” Lilly says.
Lilly’s winning piece is a portrait of Joshua Colley whom she saw on stage in “Hadestown” - the first Broadway show she saw.
“It was a life changing moment, full of passion and art. The lead who played Orpheus was the incredible Joshua Colley and was the subject of my project for ArtEx 2026. This project was my first time drawing realism and was awarded first place in the Junior/Senior Pencil category. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to submit this very special piece,” Lilly says.
Lexie’s second place drawing is called “The Librarian.” “This piece took a lot of hard work, especially with it being my first big perspective project. I wanted it to feel cozy, as libraries are a place of comfort to me. I am happy with how it turned out and am so blessed to have been given the opportunity to share it with others,” Lexie says.
Both say that storytelling is important to their art, and their mother, Carrie, says they’d love to work for Disney animation.
“For me, art is an outlet. It is a means for expression. Every piece has a story and meaning. That’s what is so special about it; it portrays a story that the artist wants to tell. Whether that story is in the composition itself, or the process it took to make it, it is meaningful all the same. My sister and I share a very deep connection based on our art. It’s such a special thing to be able to do art together and to help each other grow. We have many differences between the two of us that make us different and separate, but I’m so beyond grateful for that aspect of our lives that is aligned.” Lilly says.
Lexie says, “I love that art gives you full freedom to create worlds, characters and most of all stories. Art has always been like another language for me. When I don’t know how to put something into words, I draw it. I really love exploring new styles and adapting my own. I am always trying to broaden my skills and learn new things about art. Being a twin is a true blessing. We, along with my brother, share many talents together and enjoy creating with one another. Though we are very different in many ways, our love for art is something we share together. It was such a neat experience for us to participate in ArtEx and win first and second place with our pieces.”
The twins are the daughters of Brodie and Carrie Krause and are seniors at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
