Evergreen Park Student Grabs First Place in Beatles-Themed Art Show

“Three times lucky” sums up nine-year-old Evergreen Park resident Lilah Brown’s first place win at the Fest For Beatles Fans convention, held this month at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.

The festival is the largest and longest three-day convention in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of Beatles fans and music aficionados who want to celebrate the lives and the achievements of this iconic group.

According to Brown’s mother, they’ve been going as a family to the festival for quite some time now. “It’s a fun, family kind of thing,” Laura Brown said, a place where there is “a lot of singing and family fun, and the kids are so interested.”

Beatles fans had the opportunity to wander up and down aisles of memorabilia and mementos of the group, and listen to favorite tunes that made the band famous. In addition to the music, fans also listened to keynote speakers share candid memories of each member and view a selection of commemorative artwork created by several youngsters and adults.

Lilah Brown, a three-time contestant of the youth division, was one of several youngsters who entered the competition and won bragging rights as well as a blue ribbon for her 2011 submission.

She’s no stranger to this competition. Lilah Brown made her debut at age six with her acrylic portrait of Ringo Starr. She took home a second place win with that submission and decided to enter again with a portrait of John Lennon the next year, which won her another second place finish.

As a huge, and probably one of the youngest fans of Paul McCartney, Lilah Brown decided to base her third acrylic submission off of the Beatles White Album award-winning song “Mother Nature’s Son.”

“I wanted him to look like he was in nature,” Lilah Brown said.

With earthy hues of green and orange, and subtle hints of darker shadow near the lower part of the subjects face, the painting sets the tone for the song.

Planning for this piece took some time, Laura Brown said. “She began sketching, trying to plan everything out around Christmas,” and then began painting shortly thereafter.

“She’s always loved putting things together, and she’s really into singing, but [art] is her passion,” Laura Brown continued.

Art is something this petite Picasso may pursue long-term.

“She’s really gotten into art in recent years,” her mother said. “She’s learning about thinning paints, and so forth, and I think that it’s something that will stay with her.

“She’s [really] got a great talent, and is already planning for next year’s project,” she added.

However, after some serious thought Laura Brown said it might be best for humble young painter to take a one-year break and give someone else the chance to win.