News : Jennifer Parr wins People\'s Choice Award at State Fair

People's Choice Award: State Fair

Jennifer Par drew these sketches of Grant and Lee that hang in her living room.

Another Civil War sketch by Jennifer Parr.

People's Choice Award: State Fair

Jennifer Parr watched as specators at the Iowa State Fair art show passed by other works that had ribbons hanging from them, indicating that they had been selected by the judges for this or that honor.

She watched them stop and stare at the pencil drawing that looks like a black and white photo of a young girl.

That was her drawing.

"One lady came up to me and said she just had to shake the hand of the person who drew that girl," said Parr. "She said she could feel that girl speaking to her."

After the State Fair had ended, Parr learned that her photo-like sketch had won the People's Choice Award.

More than 3,000 State Fair attendees voted, and Parr's sketch received more votes than any other adult entry.

The home of Brian and Jennifer Parr in Vinton is full of their art work. In addition to being known as the chain saw artist, Brian enjoys painting. Jennifer has done a variety of sketches, although the photographic-style she used for the State Fair is something relatively new to her.

Jennifer has also drawn portraits of several celebrites, and sent them away to ask those celebrities to autograph them. So far, three Hollywood stars -- Doris Day, Dakota Fanning and James Garner -- have signed and returned drawings to Jennifer.

The girl in the State Fair drawing is not anyone in particular, says Jennifer. She spent about 50 hours on the project. Next year, she plans a similar project, although her subject will be old bottles found under a decades-old outhouse.