“When I’m working on a painting, I can't stop. It’s all I think about. I never know what the end product will be; it’s like watching a movie playing out, waiting to see how it’s going to end. I especially enjoy doing landscapes. When you see a great landscape, maybe on vacation, your first reaction is WOW! I use a lot of bold colors in my work because I think they emphasize that feeling, that WOW. The painting I like best is hanging on my sister’s wall right now. I used bold, bright colors and when it was finished, I thought, ‘I’ve found my style.’ My grandmother was the only person on either side of our family who was interested in art. She used bright colors in her work too. We have hundreds of her oil paintings of flowers and outdoor scenes. She was really good. The brightness reflects how I want to be, and when I’m sad it cheers me up.
“My parents have always encouraged me. They bought a binder for my artwork when I was small, and I was always proud to show off my creations when family came over. In the beginning, any critique made me mad---weren’t they supposed to think it was the greatest thing in the world?---but I’ve learned to appreciate critique, use it, and learn from it. Now it’s one of my favorite things. I appreciate being taught, and I want to learn.”
“My parents have always encouraged me. They bought a binder for my artwork when I was small, and I was always proud to show off my creations when family came over. In the beginning, any critique made me mad---weren’t they supposed to think it was the greatest thing in the world?---but I’ve learned to appreciate critique, use it, and learn from it. Now it’s one of my favorite things. I appreciate being taught, and I want to learn.”
Lydian is a high school junior, takes an Advanced Film and Video class, and is interested in studying film and video after graduation.