Alexis Long first envisioned the idea of a beaded clay dragon while flipping through a magazine.

But for a 12-year-old artist, it would be a lofty challenge. Long said she lost count of how many painstaking days it took to complete her dragon, on which she had to place each bead of the multi-colored wings.

“It was the first time I’ve done something like this,” said Long, who will be a seventh grader at West Chicago Middle School in the fall. “It took a lot of patience.”

Her patience paid off when her sculpture, “Dracoocc Maritimus,” was voted first by attendees in the crafts category. Long was among local 60 artists to display their work in the 15th annual West Chicago Fine Arts Fiesta from July 10 to 13 at Reed-Kepler Park. The event highlighted the city’s Railroad Days celebration.

Long, who also placed second for her acrylic “Butterfly Garden” painting in the student category, said she became fascinated with bead artwork and borrowed a book on the topic at the library.

Since 1993, the Fine Arts Fiesta has allowed artists of varying ages and skill levels to showcase their art in their hometown, said founder Fredericka Howard.

“I didn’t want it to be a regular art fair,” Howard said. “I wanted it to just showcase West Chicago.”

Each of the artists and photographers with works on display have either lived, worked or attended school in the West Chicago area.

Wesley Watanabe, a former dentist, painted the face of a tiger. He had previously taken art classes, including a sketching class taught by Howard. Other displays include colorful quilts by Leanne Stewart, who created one with Peanuts characters and the Mount Morris (Ill.) Fire Department.

“(The Fine Arts Fiesta) showcases the talent of what is still relatively a small town,” said West Chicago curator LuAnn Bombard.

Howard, a 74-year-old part-time art instructor has lived in the city for more than 60 years.

She said when she started the show in the early 1990s, there wasn’t much interest in art. The show started with about 25 to 30 participants but has doubled since then and expanded this year to add a photography category.

In 2005, the city also opened Gallery 200, a fine arts display in the city’s downtown that showcases local artists.