Lines, contrast, shape, and value are all principles and elements of design we have heard about at one point or another. These elements come together to form aesthetically pleasing art, especially when employed by a masterful artist like senior Jessica Lee.

Lee’s remarkable propensity for assembling lines, colors and tones into striking pieces has landed her work in multiple exhibits, such as the Montpelier Community Center, and earned her many prestigious Scholastic Art awards.

Lee draws inspiration from many sources. As she recounted, “I read Animal Farm back in middle school and even then I had an idea that stuck with me for a couple of years. It showed up in a few of my paintings unintentionally.” One of the paintings influenced by this team was “Gentleman” featuring the head of a pig contrasted on the body of a suit-clad man.

The talented senior has also drawn inspiration from other artists, and mentioned, “There’s this one artist named Guy Denning, who I really admire. He just has a really loose, interpretive style that really works with charcoal, so I’ve also been working off inspiration from him.”

For Lee, making art is more about exploration and process than a fixed idea. “I’ll just look for inspiration and use that, so I do have a goal and idea but by the time I’m done it’s nothing I expect,” said Lee.

Lee is not only open with her art in expression but is also versatile in artistic form. Although she usually works with acrylic, recently she has been experimenting more with other mediums. For example, lately she has been interested in working with ink and different kinds of pens and brush pens.

The open-minded and fluid nature of her thought process does not go undetected in her art. Lee’s work often obliges the audience to see into the artist herself. As Mrs. Stanton said, “She expresses her inner thoughts and that makes the viewer stop and look.”

Despite all her accomplishments and awards, Lee said, “I really find a lot of pride and pleasure in finishing a painting because I’m the type of person who has a lot of ideas but I can never finish them!”

Even with all her talent, and after over five years of consciously striving towards quality art, Lee admitted she still encounters struggles in the craft. But Lee does not let these negative thoughts stop her from developing her artistry. She explained, “I look back at what I’ve done before and see how much I’ve improved. That’s when I have to keep pushing myself and keep on creating work.”

This ability for self-reflection further demonstrates Lee’s character and in turn is a testament to her ability as an artist. Lee said, “[My art is] unique in that it represents a lot of what I think about, myself, and what’s in my mind. It’s a representation of myself.”

Her open approach to art is once more expressed as she reveals the true source of her originality, as she puts herself into the work and not a specific technique or palette.

To all currently struggling stick-figure drawers, Lee encouraged aspiring artists of all levels to “just keep on making art. Everyone knows this but practice does make perfect and you’ll be amazed. Just keep on drawing and drawing, carry around a sketchbook.”

The senior further explained that by keeping persistence and consistency, “you’ll look back in a few years and see how much progress you’ve made. Not only through art but within yourself, your thoughts and determining what you think is beautiful or not beautiful.” Lee wanted others to follow their own concept of art, and advised, “Don’t let other people tell you what art is.”