Spotlight on Arts
By JANELLE TENGCO | Feb. 6, 2020 | Student Life
At Stanton College Preparatory School, students are given the opportunity to join the Parent Teacher Student Association’s (PTSA) annual Reflections program where participants submit a piece of their work in eligible art categories. Sophomore Akila Jayaraman was one of the school’s recipients for the Award of Merit for her work in the visual arts category, Natural Humanity. Despite the recognition of her artistic forte, Jayaraman begins planning for her future in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program while maintaining this hobby.
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: Your work, Natural Humanity, has been given the Award of Merit in the PTSA’s Reflection Contest. What is the meaning behind this piece?
photo obtained from Stanton PTSA
AKILA JAYARAMAN: I drew Natural Humanity because I really like the theme, which was “Look Within.” I thought that was a really good theme and a lot of people put passion into their [interests] and really express themselves through art or dance. So, I wanted to portray that.
DA: How will you carry your interest in art into the International Baccalaureate program?
AJ: I will probably continue into IB Art. I want to improve my skill level and I want to be able to think outside of the box more with my art.
DA: What inspired you to start doing art?
AJ: I’ve always liked drawing and it’s always been fun for me. So, improving and drawing more has been interesting. [I have] no specific artist [for inspiration], but there are a lot of good [student] artists in my class who I really think are amazing at art.
DA: It is pertinent for artists to remain informed about modern styles and trends that are appealing to your potential viewers. How do you find your inspiration for your works?
AJ: [The internet] is a really good resource because I love browsing through art and just looking through other people’s work. Even on social media, I love seeing other people’s drawings. A lot of times I see other people’s drawings and it inspires me to draw more, too. [I have] no specific art style, but from an art-historical perspective, my favorite is Rococo art.
DA: In order for your works to be relevant to your viewers, choosing relevant topics or issues is essential in the planning process. What are some topics and issues that you choose to portray in your pieces?
photo by Janelle Tengco
AJ: I haven’t gotten into the level where I express issues through my artwork. I’m at the level where I just express what I’m feeling. I have more personal art, not art that could have meaning to everyone. I draw things that inspire me and things that I see aesthetic in [while] putting them in a personal way.
DA: As a sophomore, you are preparing yourself for junior year and being inducted into the IB program. Will your enrollment in the IB program affect your interest in continuing art in the future?
AJ: Hopefully not, and I don’t think it will be. Art is always interesting and fun. It’s also a good break from school work. After I graduate, I want to try doing more art and trying different types of media, maybe 3D, sculpture, or graffiti.
DA: For every artist, there is always room for improvement. How do you plan on improving your artistic styles or adopting new ones?
AJ: In my opinion, I like drawing abstract. I don’t like drawing with perfect realism, but I would like to improve on it because that would also improve my abstract qualities.
DA: What do you hope to gain as a student and artist in the IB program?
AJ: I hope to develop my skills and improve overall on how things should be drawn.
DA: Do you see the IB program as an opportunity to improve your prowess as an artist or a challenge to balance your interest in visual arts with your academics?
AJ: I see it as a challenge because as of now, I’m very slow in drawing in art and it takes me a very long time to complete projects. Having deadlines will help me work faster so I can be more productive with my art.
DA: How will the IB program expand your interest in the visual arts?
AJ: A lot of times when I’m in art class now, my teacher gives me really interesting prompts and tackling those prompts to create a piece of art is very challenging for me now. So, in IB Art, there will be more prompts and challenges to face and that will be fun to tackle. I think about [these challenges] a lot and I like to put a lot of thought into it because once I have a good idea, I get more excited and work more productively.