James Clemens High School artist claims Best in Show honors
MADISON – Crinan Marlin, a student at James Clemens High School, has earned the top awards at two respected art shows.
“Crinan has blossomed as a prolific and highly talented artist throughout high school. He has worked exceptionally hard to hone his skills and creates work with precision and beauty,” Liz Vaughn, art teacher at James Clemens, said. “He has a good eye for design and takes great reference photos.”
Marlin won “Best in Show” at the 2026 State Superintendent’s Art Competition, another “Best in Show” and first in his division in the Alabama Art Association virtual art show, and is currently featured in the Youth Art Month show at Huntsville Museum of Art.
Marlin has loved the arts since before he can remember. “I can contribute most of my early beginnings to my mother, who is an art teacher, and she caringly encouraged my development,” Marlin said.
“My mother has been a big supporter of my art since I was so young. Once I started taking art classes in high school, my technical ability really blossomed with the help of my two wonderful art teachers and friendly competition with my peers,” he said.
Marlin’s favorite medium is oil paint. “Though it takes a while to do. I often stick to colored pencils and graphite. I get all my supplies from either the local Michael’s or the school,” Marlin said.
Typically, he uses warm pinks and reds for skin tones with browns and blues for the darks. “For the colored pencils, I like to exaggerate any colors that I see,” Marlin said.
Marlin can complete commissions for family photos, pets and practically any subject. “I can work in pretty much any medium. I prefer painting portraits, though,” he said.
“Seeing that my hard work is on display and getting credit for my hard work and dedication is so rewarding,” Marlin said. “I’m so lucky that I’m getting recognition and representing artists and art students.”
“I attended many elementary schools and middle schools. I went to elementary school in Little Rock, Ark., and middle school in Fairhope, Alab. In eighth grade, I went to both Discovery and Liberty, and now I am a senior at James Clemens,” he said.
Marlin leads the National Art Honors Society and guides many artistic volunteer opportunities for its members.
His mother, Lauren Nalty, works at Discovery Middle School as an art teacher. His father, R.J. Nalty, works as a chemical engineer in safety at Ascend.
In his free time, Crinan obviously loves the arts, and most of his hobbies are artistic to some extent. Crinan also loves to play video games and to bake.
Crinan hopes to attend the University of Alabama “if I get enough scholarships. Right now, I’m planning to attend Calhoun Community College, and I’d like to set up an art commissions booth at Lowe Mill to save up for school.”
