Art has been a hobby for junior Emily Leone for most of her life, and she has been actively involved in the art program at PHS for five years now. Leone is now currently in the studio art pre-AP class. Leone fell in love with art when she was young, thanks to her grandmother, who was one of Leone’s main influences for starting art.
“Most of my time with my grandmother was spent drawing or doing something artistic. A few times during the summer while I was younger, my grandmother would take me to a painting class that she regularly went to,” said Leone.
Like everyone else, Leone was put into art class in elementary school, but she went on to continue making art in junior high. Not only that, but Leone would do art outside of school growing up, but now it is harder to do because of her busy life.
Every artist has their strengths and weaknesses, and Leone is no different. Leone has a passion for drawing inanimate objects, but tries to avoid drawing human figures. Leone believes that it does not matter what it is that a person draws, but how it can benefit them in the future.
“When it comes to art, I think pushing yourself to draw different kinds of things is pretty helpful in the long run. I used to hate drawing human figures, I still kind of do, but the more that I draw them, the more comfortable I am doing it. I will always love drawing ‘non-living’ things that you find everyday–barns, trucks, tools–but pushing myself to draw things I don’t particularly like pushes me as an artist,” said Leone.
Leone’s speciality when it comes to mediums used to make her art is watercolor. She believes it is the easiest to use, and it is the most versatile. Pencil would be her least favorite medium just because it has been done many times before, and she is burnt out on it. However, it is something that she can always go back to, so that is a plus.
As for her future, Leone is undecided on what career she wants to pursue, but she would not take art completely out of the picture. Leone feels that art is something she can always fall back onto.
“I think it would be cool to at least minor in art throughout college, considering that it has been apart of my life for so long. I do know that I will always keep art as a hobby in the future,” said Leone.
Story by Sara Kesterson
