Tell us a little bit about your journey as a young and developing artist.

I started a passion for art when I was little- according to my mother when I was learning how to talk. It’s always been fascinating and challenging that someone could create such masterpieces with a pencil and paper. So I started making my own! It started as scribbles on recycled newspaper with crayons- not the most appealing. But I’d improve a little itty-bitty every time I scribbled. I’d draw every day, doodling on my math homework and sheets upon sheets of notebook paper. And after a few months, I was finally getting the hang of this “art” thing- actually drawing full-on drawings. And look at me now- not the best artist, but still a good one. It was unarguably tough to start up the engine, but that’s the most important part of it: The beginning.

Which has been your favorite project to work on at One River and why?

Probably the still life of a plant. I had loads of fun drawing the shape, the shading, the light reflecting off of it… it was a blast. And although it was difficult, that just added to the fun!

How would you describe One River to your friends?

I love One River and the teachers. The curriculum is absolutely engaging. It has digital art, animating, still life, portraits, abstract- the whole shebang. Plus, it’s really fun- the classes really teach you a lot.

What would you tell people who’ve never dabbled in art making are the real benefits to trying it?

Art can be anything- from greenery to music, cooking to outfit choices, it really can be anything. But if you’re looking for art where anything is possible, drawing is the way to go. It’s one of the only art mediums that let your imagination run wild- and imagination is important. Also, doodling is a type of drawing! It’s where you think of something, and that something is on paper. You may think that that’s useless, but it’s very important when you’re trying to think up ideas, or just drawing stuff in general. Plus, it’s a very good boredom buster. In conclusion, drawing is an art medium I recommend, along with the music. (P.S. Double conclusion- doodling is one of the main factors that makes drawing so loved.)