Jacquelyn Matthews drew inspiration from her family for her self-portrait piece made up of off-balanced books.

At Day of the Arts on Thursday, the Manteca High senior won “best in show” with the project she made in Matt McDonald’s 3D Art class.

“I collect books,” said Matthews, explaining her work. “I used some red because it’s the favorite color of my mom (Ruth), and put roses in it for my sister (Elizabeth Rose).

“The wood, and you can’t see it because it supports the piece, is for my dad (Robert), who is a carpenter.”

She didn’t use any of her favorite books for the piece. “I just couldn’t rip up any of (my favorite books) up,” Matthews said.

Finally, she noted the piece was done off-balanced to represent her organizational skills.

Matthews had 15 pieces entered in the annual event held at Winter Gym, including a painting and ceramic piece that both earned first place ribbons.

Another Advanced Art student, Melanie Morris, took a “best in show” award with her colorful painting of Canadian musician Dallas Green.

“He’s my favorite singer,” she said of the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter who also perform under the name ‘City and Colour.’

Morris had nine pieces entered in the MHS Day of the Arts, including a second-place band shoe – she was one of five people picked to do the music theme design.

“Art is my passion,” said Morris, who moved to Manteca from Lancaster earlier this school year. A senior, she’s looking to continuing her education at the Art Institute in Hollywood.

Logan Newcomb is a promising Architectural Design student in Sam Dolson’s class.

In his Automata Design, the senior was beyond proficient in his use with the AutoCAD and MasterCAM software programs.

“It’s great that our kids at MHS are exposed to these hi-tech programs,” Dolson said. “Not too many high schools have this.”

Newcomb is hoping to become an engineer. According to Dolson, he’s looking at attending college somewhere in Alabama.

McDonald, meanwhile, indicated that some of the top pieces from the show will be on display at next month’s “Best of the Best” 2013 District Art Show.

“We won’t know which ones until the next week or two,” he said.