Kennedy Gerber - BUFFALO GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
My art has allowed me to express my emotions and opinions. Sometimes it’s easier to draw how you feel instead of just expressing it. Over the years I’ve worked through evolving techniques and style. Growing up I loved watching cartoons like Adventure Time and Steven Universe. Those shows and media really inspired me into working and learning art. I’ve always been a sucker for cartoon networks and feel as if some of the elements, ideas, and designs have stuck into my art's graphic elements.
Incorporating typography and song lyrics into my work has always been a must for me. For me music and art go hand in hand. Being in the music and art programs all four years at Buffalo Grove High School has led me to find an appreciation for both together. If I can listen to a song and have it leave an impact on me, I can find a way to make art of it and its emotions. Working in theater I’ve always had an affinity for light and drastic colors. Designing lighting has really helped me in understanding perspectives, angels, and colors. I use that knowledge to help create contrasting and dramatic scenes in my art work. With all of these things combined I feel as if this is my strongest way of communicating my opinions and emotions. Even if my art has some dark themes and subtext I find ways to still make it a little silly with its exaggerated expressions and words. Hoping to leave the viewer satisfied, unsettled, and a bit intrigued to see what comes next.
Incorporating typography and song lyrics into my work has always been a must for me. For me music and art go hand in hand. Being in the music and art programs all four years at Buffalo Grove High School has led me to find an appreciation for both together. If I can listen to a song and have it leave an impact on me, I can find a way to make art of it and its emotions. Working in theater I’ve always had an affinity for light and drastic colors. Designing lighting has really helped me in understanding perspectives, angels, and colors. I use that knowledge to help create contrasting and dramatic scenes in my art work. With all of these things combined I feel as if this is my strongest way of communicating my opinions and emotions. Even if my art has some dark themes and subtext I find ways to still make it a little silly with its exaggerated expressions and words. Hoping to leave the viewer satisfied, unsettled, and a bit intrigued to see what comes next.
Luis Diaz - elk grove high school
My work shows my artistic growth through a series of sequential visual images. Discovering my personal artistic style did not happen overnight. In fact, it was my sustained investigation that led me to this discovery. By creating a series of drawings that illustrate my artistic journey from childhood through high school I was able to reflect back to the moments that have shaped my artistic choices, likes and styles. This process has solidified what I now feel is my style.
The series of drawings I created were inspired by the events that impacted my interest in art. Through each of these pieces I was able to reminisce about the artwork, artists and people that provided support in my artistic endeavors. This body of work helped me remember the critiques and feedback I received. It's clear now this wasn’t criticism, but recommendations and suggestions to enhance my personal style. Recognizing this was the first step. This work recognizes the need for guidance. And with that guidance from my amazing art teachers and family they helped and supported my dreams.
The series of drawings I created were inspired by the events that impacted my interest in art. Through each of these pieces I was able to reminisce about the artwork, artists and people that provided support in my artistic endeavors. This body of work helped me remember the critiques and feedback I received. It's clear now this wasn’t criticism, but recommendations and suggestions to enhance my personal style. Recognizing this was the first step. This work recognizes the need for guidance. And with that guidance from my amazing art teachers and family they helped and supported my dreams.
Zoe Niezyniecki - JOHN HERSEY HIGH SCHOOL
Through my sustained investigation and art at John Hersey High school, I have learned and practiced the fundamentals of creating art, especially portraits. Because freshman through junior year I primarily focused on inanimate subjects and nature, I felt I needed to challenge myself more in my sustained investigation with something I hadn’t taken the time to study: the art of drawing faces.
There are infinite faces to study, all unique, and there is little room for error when drawing them to accurately depict someone. As the year progressed, I did studies in my sketchbook alongside my si pieces, and face after face, I progressed. I learned how to quickly and accurately sketch someone’s face through adjusting the standard facial proportions. I studied many different angles, working on perspective, which in general is one of the more
difficult fundamentals of art especially with faces and portraits. Looking at my collection of si pieces and their processes, I have gathered that I like to work, either late at night or outside in the sun, and preferably in color—not natural skin tones. I also favor painting over drawing although I am confident in both skills. Another big part of my process is how I express my work through the process. Sometimes I feel too constrained in how I start the piece, and I have to loosen up my mark making. I have learned to be less cautious but more intentional with my mark-making, which I believe is the most prominent skill and mindset I have developed this year.
Grace HE - prospect high school
I have two names — Grace He and 贺圣耀, and finding a way to coexist between those two identities has been my journey for the last eighteen years. For a long time, I resented my Chinese identity because I felt that it was the reason I was placed under extreme pressure to perform, that it was responsible for the many late night study sessions. I blamed my culture for my burnout and exhaustion. But as I grew older, I realized that I didn’t have to agree with everything that my culture offers, that I have the power to choose the things in which I want to participate. I’ve decided to try and rekindle my relationship with my Chinese identity by reevaluating the positive parts of what I have experienced throughout my childhood, such as through food or shopping at traditional Chinese grocery stores.
In my artwork, I like to start with reference photos and draw on paper. Finally, I transfer the drawings to the digital world through Procreate. In these pieces, the figures with fish heads represent my emotions of burnout and lack of identity, while the prominence of the jellyfish symbolizes my desire to go with the flow. I also have crabs and seaweed as recurring themes within my pieces. The buoyancy of the floating sea life creates a dream-like effect, producing an atmosphere where there seems to be a suspension of time. My art is a way for me to connect with myself, which in turn reconnects me with my culture, and it will continue to be a constant in my journey of self-discovery.
In my artwork, I like to start with reference photos and draw on paper. Finally, I transfer the drawings to the digital world through Procreate. In these pieces, the figures with fish heads represent my emotions of burnout and lack of identity, while the prominence of the jellyfish symbolizes my desire to go with the flow. I also have crabs and seaweed as recurring themes within my pieces. The buoyancy of the floating sea life creates a dream-like effect, producing an atmosphere where there seems to be a suspension of time. My art is a way for me to connect with myself, which in turn reconnects me with my culture, and it will continue to be a constant in my journey of self-discovery.
Paige Cosico - ROLLING MEADOWS HIGH SCHOOL
Throughout my years of high school, art has been like a close friend. Whether it be things
such as drawing, painting, or music, art has been there for me through the best and the worst
times. I’ve taken art classes all four years of high school, and every year has helped me grow as
an artist. I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to learn so much about art these past few years
because it has helped me further develop myself, both artistically and personally.
After high school, I plan to continue my art studies. I would like to major in illustration, and I
hope to have a career as an illustrator in the near future. I’ve had a love for art my entire life,
and I would love to have the opportunity to pursue a career doing what I love.
In my portfolio, all of the pieces I chose are references to my culture, my family, and my
interests. For most of these pieces, I referenced old family photos from the Philippines. I also
referenced photos from other sources, such as photos from a trip to the botanical gardens,
photos from the zoo when I was young, and a flower book given to me by my French teacher. I
wanted to create pieces that honor and reminisce on certain people, times, or things that mean
something to me, whether it be the family members that have passed on, family that is still
around, or times when I was young.
such as drawing, painting, or music, art has been there for me through the best and the worst
times. I’ve taken art classes all four years of high school, and every year has helped me grow as
an artist. I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to learn so much about art these past few years
because it has helped me further develop myself, both artistically and personally.
After high school, I plan to continue my art studies. I would like to major in illustration, and I
hope to have a career as an illustrator in the near future. I’ve had a love for art my entire life,
and I would love to have the opportunity to pursue a career doing what I love.
In my portfolio, all of the pieces I chose are references to my culture, my family, and my
interests. For most of these pieces, I referenced old family photos from the Philippines. I also
referenced photos from other sources, such as photos from a trip to the botanical gardens,
photos from the zoo when I was young, and a flower book given to me by my French teacher. I
wanted to create pieces that honor and reminisce on certain people, times, or things that mean
something to me, whether it be the family members that have passed on, family that is still
around, or times when I was young.
Anna Check- wheeling high school
I have always been inspired and awed by the sheer complexity within nature. In my school science classes I have learned that no matter how familiar you are with nature, there are always hidden layers of intricacy that will completely blow you away. I began my investigation exploring how humans impact nature and how nature impacts us (as demonstrated in my buffalo and snail pieces). However, as I continued in my investigation, I became intrigued with the deeper layers and meanings of the subjects. I began manifesting this investigation through the physical layers of anatomy and skeleton shape (shown in my fox piece), however, recently, I began investigating the layers of roles that animals play in their given ecosystems (as demonstrated in my turtle reef illustration). I’m also curious to continue exploring the cultural layers that involve animals.