For her class project, the Kelso High School senior wanted to recreate the image — a photo of her older brother at age 5 — into a charcoal illustration, but she'd chosen a daunting photo. Light bounces off curly locks in a maddening array of directions, playing tricks on even the most experienced artists. And the intricate detail in the sweater would take days to duplicate.

"She does not pick easy things," said Kelso art teacher Elana Carpenter.

Eilish worked on the piece throughout the first semester of her senior year and the effort paid off. The artwork won first place out of regional entries in the Congressional Art Competition, and it will hang for a year in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Eilish and her parents also win a free round-trip flight to Washington in June to see the piece.

Eilish (pronounced EYE-lish) had forgotten she'd entered the contest until she received a voicemail from Third District Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler.

"My mom was jumping up and down screaming," Eilish said. "She was really, really excited."

The humble 18-year-old says she rarely drew anything before high school. She took her first class — Beginning Art — last year as a junior.

"I didn't ever think that I would like art that much or that I was that good at it," she said.

Now, she's in two advanced art classes at Kelso and draws whenever she gets a break in her busy schedule, which includes ballet, volleyball and band practices.

Her brother, Julian, is now 23. The original photo was taken by their father, Alan Ledgerwood, nearly two decades ago as part of an LCC photography class.

There's debate among family members and friends as to whether the charcoal piece, titled "Kid Without Claws," looks like Julian.

"Everyone says it looks like my other brother, Nigel," Eilish said. "A lot of people think it's a little girl the first time they look at it."

That's of no concern to Julian, who Eilish said is thrilled to have a drawing of himself gracing the walls of the Capitol.

"He was like, ‘I need to put this on Facebook,'" his sister said.

Eilish is the third consecutive Kelso student to win the contest, which includes entries from high school students throughout the 3rd Congressional District. Elle Mustion won last year and Kyle Weage took first in 2009.

Kelso's Aaron Garoutte received honorable mention for his entry in this year's contest.