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

For the longest time, I was unsure I wanted to pursue art and was very self conscious of my lack of skills. I honestly stopped art all together for a few year because I thought I was so bad. I only got back into art in high school. It wasn’t until my sophomore year though that I read a book that changed my perspective on art in general and pursuing it as a career. After that I searched for way to develop my skills and portfolio for college applications which is how I stumbled upon One River.

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

My class spent a few weeks working solely on drawing from observation and still life. It was very fun and definitely pushed us out of our comfort zones. We changed the lighting in the room for deeper shadows and brighter highlights as well as experimenting with new mediums. My personal favorite was vine charcoal which I hadn’t used much before the project. It was so loose and easy to work with and it helped me gain a better understanding of shadows and observation drawing.

How would you describe One River to your friends?

I think the experience is different for everyone but for me it is the perfect environment for my skills to grow without outside factors hindering or putting pressure on me. I’m a very self conscious person and I struggle to create art by myself and in school due to this. At One River I have been able to work and grow confidently with the help of my peers and teacher. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful. I have never felt uncomfortable and awkward about my art and have only been encouraged.

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

So many people are quick to say that they have no talent in the arts or are unskilled when they have never tried. I thought this way for a long time before I became confident in my skills. I think what people don’t realize is that talent can only get you so far in art. In the end, the effort and thought is what is truly important and will get you so much further. There are no skill requirements when it comes to being an artist. If you never try it then you can never know how it can help you grow and become a better and more creative individual.