Creativity often makes its way into unexpected places, and at Oak Park High School this statement couldn’t be any more true. From the vibrant classrooms to inspiring murals on the walls, art finds its way to turn everyday experiences into something colorful.
You’ve probably seen her impact in the intricate sketches pinned in the office, or the annual art showcase. Maybe you’ve paused and wondered who created it, and if you asked you would learn they were made by OPHS junior Chelsea Liu, a student whose creativity leaves a quiet but long lasting mark on the school.
From drawings to larger pieces, Liu’s work brings liveliness and imagination into mundane spaces. What began as a childhood pastime soon blossomed into her passion and sparked her early love for drawing.
“The first time I picked up a pencil was when I was 2-years-old, by the will of my mom,” Liu said. “I drew quite a lot as a child out of boredom, but it wasn’t till I was 9 or 10 when I started to really fall in love with what I was doing and understand how wonderful it was to just be able to create anything I wanted with just a pencil and paper.”
Her foundation from an early age was able to introduce her to various art styles and has helped her develop versatility in art.
“I grew up with a foundation in painting and drawing realism, so naturally, it is the style that I gravitate towards. Last year, I finished a portfolio for AP Art, and I believe my theme was how the use of technology impacted my life. My pieces were a bit darker and heavier in terms of color and ideas,” Liu said. “But when I’m making art purely for my own enjoyment, I like experimenting with different styles and colors.”
For many artists, coming up with concepts for your art can be frustrating or unable to create. They say that an artist’s greatest enemy is art block, and it’s no different for Liu.
“Art block is one of my nemeses besides figure drawing and hands. I don’t think I’ve drawn enough lately to have suffered from it but, there was this one period of my life in middle school where I simply could not make anything that I liked. I didn’t feel the urge to make anything, and what I ended up making just felt off, no matter how much I tweaked or looked at it,” Liu said. “I had this unsatisfied feeling with my art during this time and ended up leaving a bunch of projects half finished, because I lacked the motivation to finish them.”
Oftentimes artists find themselves experiencing burn out due to comparing their artwork with another’s. Whenever Liu feels stuck or can’t seem to pick up her brush, she takes a step back to recognize when she may be doing too much.
“I think the big thing that really helped me was to take a step back from making art for a little while. It sounds pretty drastic, but sometimes getting caught up in the lows of something you love really harms your passion towards it,” Liu said. “Though, in this time, I downloaded Pinterest for the first time, and got exposed to all the amazing art that I found, which sparked my desire to draw again.”
While reflecting on her artistic influences, Liu cites classical contemporary artists influences for her style and perspective. These diverse influences blend with her originality and are translated into her own art.
“I do have a few favorite artists like Andrew Cadima, [he’s] a master of color theory and technique, and also Sam Yang, who I like referencing for his simplification of shapes and unique semi-realistic style. I also remember visiting Europe a few summers ago and drawing the architecture there. I was in so much awe of the detail and how these sculptors made marble look more life-like than what they actually captured.”
However, balancing academics and creativity hasn’t always been easy for Liu. Since finishing OPHS’ AP Art course last year she struggles to carve out moments of her own time amidst a busy schedule.
“For the past two years, I would take art as an elective, which would give me the time to work on pieces and also act as a breather in between classes,” Liu said. “This year, that’s not the case anymore, so I’ve been trying to draw on the weekends when I can free up time. But this usually doesn’t happen because I’m pretty terrible at managing my time.”
In art, collaboration and community are a huge part of an artist’s outlook. Liu finds inspiration in not only the works of famous artists but also the creativity of her peers whose styles and perspectives give ideas for her own art.
“I’d love to collaborate with any of the artists at school. Seeing how other people in my age group draw and interpret things is really interesting to me, and I like observing little details from all the different styles that I see on the walls,” Liu said.
Liu’s journey in art is just beginning and drives her to push her own boundaries. To her, art isn’t just about putting paint on a canvas; it’s about creating something that resonates with others. Looking to the future, Liu hopes to continue growing her skills and finding other innovative ways to share her work.
“I realized how much I enjoyed the challenge of putting life into the subjects in my pieces, and capturing their spark through simple paint strokes and colors,” Liu said. “This may sound a tad bit conceited but I also love seeing the glow in someone’s eyes and the way they smile when they unwrap a painting I’ve made for them. It makes me feel warm and bubbly inside knowing that I’ve brought them a little bit of joy in their lives.”
