And while the competition gets its sponsorship through a partnership with Penta Paints and Brothers Habet, painting up the place for this competition, doesn't necessarily mean having to paint with penta.

Carlo Habet - Marketing Manager, Brother's Habet
"All that's really required is that they use the specific size of Bristol board, which is 20 X 24, so it has the landscape feel, but aside from that that they can use markers, charcoal, coloring pencils, and pastels. This really signifies more in that we will paint their school. The mural will then go on that school as well, and we will then display their paintings or drawings in our calendar. So there is an exhibition that goes on as well, and these are also some areas that will use paintings."

Gilvano Swasey - Curator/Artist, Image Factory
"The whole objective behind it is to have Belizean children engaged in what's happening in society. For example, the themes that are used for them in the competition - this year, we're using themes from Belizean heroes like Phillip Goldson, Andy Palacio, Paul Nabor, and it's - for example, one of the themes we gave them was from Phillip Goldson, 'The best time to save your country is before you lose it.' So, some of the children had to depict that in some of their paintings. Beyond that, the entire competition doesn't just deal with winners. After we have nominated 12 finalists that will appear on a calendar that is given out to customers of Brothers Habet, to share the ideas and dreams of the children of Belize, there is also where the school wins. The winning school gets to be painted, and the mural becomes public art."

12 winning pieces out of dozens of entries submitted this year, will grace the pages of an annual calendar to be distributed by Brothers Habet, and four of those Calendar months were snagged thru a total of 4 wins by students of St. Joseph's Primary school - who spoke to us...

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us about your artwork. Where you did you get the idea from, and how long it did it take you to complete it?"

Omar Choc - St. Joseph Primary , STD 5
"I got the idea from this book that I like to read, and it took me about 1 month to finish it."

Jim McFadzean
"Describe for us the artwork that you did. Tell us what it's about."

Omar Choc
"It's about children reading and having a lot of imagination."

Jim McFadzean
"Was it difficult?"

Omar Choc
"Yes, it was difficult, but at the end it was worth it."

Jim McFadzean
"Describe for us your artwork, and did you get any help in completing it?"

Zyania Alonzo - St. Joseph Primary, STD 5
"My artwork is bringing peace to the bad side, and yes I had help from my teacher, Miss Fiona."

Jim McFadzean
"What was the most difficult part of getting your art piece done?"

Zyania Alonzo
"The difficult parts were the colors because I made a little mistake, but I finished it well."

Jim McFadzean
"Did you expect to win?"

Zyania Alonzo
"No I thought - well, yes I expected to win."

Jim McFadzean
"What do you think of the other artwork here, today? Are they comparable to yours?"

Zyania Alonzo
"Well, yes, they are good."

Jim McFadzean
"is this your first time also utilizing paint?"

Zyania Alonzo
"No, this is my second time."

Jim McFadzean
"And do you enjoy using paint?"

Zyania Alonzo
"Yes."

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us where you got the idea for your artwork."

Hui-Ling Huang - St. Joseph Primary, STD 6
"When I think of the ancestors, what they used to do, we are still doing it now, when they use to make it rise, the tomato, we are still doing it now. We follow what they did."

Jim McFadzean
"How long have you been an art student?"

Hui-Ling Huang
"About 3 years."

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us, what did you use in terms of acrylic, paint, pencil?"

Hui-Ling Huang
"I used coloring pencil, water-colored and acrylic paint."

Jim McFadzean
"And, which of those do you enjoy using more?"

Hui-Ling Huang
"Water color, when I just started painting this, I used water color because I'm not really used to using acrylic paint."

Jim McFadzean
"Tell us about your artwork. Where did you get the idea for your art piece?"

Orlando Pelayo Jr. - St. Joseph Primary, STD 6
"I got the idea from the Barrier Reef of Belize. The undersea life has always interested me, so I put it on the paper, and I started drawing."

Jim McFadzean
"Is this your first experience using paint?"

Orlando Pelayo Jr.
"Actually, my artwork didn't use paint. I used pencils, crayons, and charcoal."

Jim McFadzean
"How long have you been an art student?"

Orlando Pelayo Jr.
"I've been an art student for about 3 to 4 years."

Jim McFadzean
"Do you enjoy painting? Which form of artwork do you prefer?"

Orlando Pelayo Jr.
"I prefer pencils and crayons and when you make use of the coloring pencils."

Jim McFadzean
"Were you impressed with your final product?"

Orlando Pelayo Jr.
"Yes, I am."

The winner of this year's 'Penta Paint-Up the Place' is SJC second form student, Amir Smith.

The exhibition will make its way to other parts of the countries in the coming weeks. Over thirty schools participated, with more than one hundred entries submitted nationwide.