This past weekend I was able to interview a North Carolina teen artist! Her skills are quite impressive, and you can recognize her works by the little "R. S." hidden somewhere in the color explosion on canvas. She has been studying art intensively throughout high school, picking up awards here and there in her journey. While she requested I not use her real name in the article, she did allow me to ask her questions concerning her craft and career. Here's what this young creative has to say:

Tell me more about your love for art. How did you start?

I've done some doodling when I was little, but I didn't actually start drawing as a hobby until I was a tween.

When did you begin taking lessons?

When we noticed I was drawing a lot, we looked into getting me some lessons. I think my first art instruction was when I was about twelve or thirteen.

Had you shared any of your art before that?

Not really. I think it was when I started taking classes that I really started sharing my work online, and with others in person.

How did sharing your art make you feel?

I remember doing a little doodle of my dog when he was asleep on the couch. When I showed it to Mom she loved it. That was one of the moments when I began to realize that God had given me a talent. It was a neat experience.

You mentioned your faith--do you think your art in any way reflects who you are as a Christian?

I certainly hope it does! There are so many unique colors and shapes in His beautiful world all around us. I hope that my work reflects that, even my works which are more "cartoony" and less realistic.

Is your style intentionally "cartoony"?

Sometimes, yes. I like a little of both worlds, some realistic stuff and some "cartoony" stuff. Plus, knowing how to make good caricatured images has a lot to do with knowing the basic principles necessary for realism.

What's your favorite medium to work with?

Good question! Hmmm. While making art digitally is very good for multiple reasons, I tend to feel more comfortable with traditional media. I think it's a tie between just plain ole graphite pencils on paper, and oil on canvas.

Do you have a favorite artist? Favorite piece?

It's VERY hard for me to pinpoint one particular artwork that really speaks to me! There's so much from the past and in the present that just blows my mind! The artwork that comes to mind is The Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (see below). Also, da Vinci is one of several artists who I really like. He's definitely somewhere in my top ten. His ideas sketched in his notebooks are particularly fascinating. I'm a big fan of Renaissance and Impressionist art, and just about anything animated by Disney.

What about your art? Do you have a favorite piece of your own?

My favorite out of the pieces I chose for you would have to be the Dinosaurs By the Museum. It was an entry for a contest, and I kinda broke the rules. The dinosaurs were supposed to be drawn in their natural habitat, but I decided that was a little boring and that if I were a dinosaur, I'd be hanging out in the City of Oaks!

But another favorite piece of art is an original painting I'm currently working on for class, so it's not ready for sharing just yet!

I can't wait to see it! And didn't your dinosaur piece win a contest?

Yes, it was a Dino drawing contest for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. You had to draw a dinosaur in its natural habitat--obviously I took just a teeny bit of artistic liberty with that. The contest was split into age groups, so there were categories for little kids, too. It was fun seeing their pictures on the wall.

You're almost finished with High School. Do you see art in your future?

Yes! I definitely want to pursue something in that field.

Keep your eyes on the lookout for an "R. S." whenever you see fan art or award winning canvases because this artist is definitely going to accomplish some great things!