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Arts & Entertainment

It's Much More Than Doodling

Coginchaug Regional High School student Cory Hassman, 14, of Durham, is a finalist in the national Doodle 4 Google contest. Here's a look at how he got this far and where he'd like to go from here.

Cory Hassman, 14, of Durham is one of 50 state finalists in the national Doodle 4 Google contest. The ultimate winner will be determined by popular vote. Cory stands to win $30,000 in scholarship money and the school could receive a $50,000 computer and technology grant from Google if he makes it to the top. So go to Google and vote for Cory!

Patch: Is there a particular person who you consider to be a mentor who you would like to thank?

Cory: Yes, I would  like to thank both of my previous and current art teachers from Strong and CRHS, Mrs. Schaefer and Mrs. Wenzel. They may have not helped me with my doodle, but they have always supported my work and my talent.

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Patch: What was your inspiration for the piece?

Cory: In seventh grade, I had studied the Industrial Revolution, which is where most of my knowledge on the topic came from. As for the individual letters, I had just researched the inventions that were created during the Industrial Revolution and I fit an invention into every letter.

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Patch: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Cory: In 10 years, I see myself just getting out of art school and ready to temporarily work in the graphics department for my dad's business, National Sign. After that I see finding a job somewhere else dealing with graphics or starting my own business involving art which is what my dad would want me to do.

Patch: Is there a particular type of art that interests you?

Cory: Mainly hand-drawn art interests me the most, including graphite drawings. I like to look at abstract art yet I could never see myself creating abstract that well.

Patch: What will be your next project or challenge you decide to take on?

Cory: The next project I will take on is a full-blown graphite drawing that I plan to spend a while on, on a larger surface than 8x10.

Patch: If someone sees your Google doodle, what do you hope they will enjoy about it?

Cory: I hope that they enjoy the creativity that I have incorporated into designing each letter and the smoke coming out of the L and the smoke-filled E.

Patch: Where do you hope to go to college or to work?

Cory: I do not know a specific college that I would like to go to, but I know that it will be an art school that is not out of Connecticut. I hope to work at my dad's business temporarily in the graphics department, but later own my own business in graphic arts or a small online clothing company.

Patch: It's a world of one-line tweets ... give your doodle a catch phrase.

Cory: "The Industrial Revolution has transformed a grayscale life into one with a flush of color."         

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