How long have you been a student at One River?

I have been a student at One River since Fall 2021, and I’ve  attended Summer Camp here for the last 2 years. I was originally in the Digital Art Shuffle class, then I signed up for the Animation class as well. I figured Animation would be a good skill to have since I want to be a character designer. The Portfolio class is my first traditional art class here. I love that we are able to work on and develop our own projects and I love seeing the variety of work that my classmates make. 

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

I really started taking drawing seriously in 2020. I realized this was something that I would like to do as a career because I think in pictures. Drawings are easier to put on paper than writing for me. I think that’s why I like to draw so much; it’s an easy way for me to express myself.

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

I like starting new pieces in general, but my last project was my favorite. “Corner of The Room” was my first full colored pencil piece. The project had a lot of tiny details and I enjoyed adding in the small elements. I had never completed a piece with just colored pencils before, so this was a fun challenge for me. The piece is 9×12, and it’s surprisingly a lot of surface area to cover with such a small pencil!

Describe One River in 3 words and tell us why

Supportive. Welcoming. Nurturing. All of the staff and students have supported me so much during my time here. I have had the opportunity to meet and connect with so many people who share my interests. One River is a safe space where I can be myself with like-minded peers.

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

It allows you to see the world completely differently; when you look at an object, you don’t just see the thing, you see its fundamental shapes and the angles that make it up. When you see a color you look at its undertones and all the other colors that are part of it, and you really learn how to look at the world and see things.