Join WSPN’s Kate Goodman as she talks to senior Kaileigh Walker about her art.
When did you start getting into art?
I’ve been into art for as long as I can remember. I think I had that fascination with drawing that most little kids have, and [for me], it just never went away.
Where and how did you discover your passion for art?
I can’t think of an exact time or way I got interested in art. I’d just say a lot of it was people encouraging me as a kid. My parents were very supportive of my art, and it made me want to draw more.
What art courses have you taken at Wayland High School and which was your favorite?
[During] my time at WHS, I have taken Painting 1, Art 2, Art 3 and now AP Art. My favorite was Painting 1 because it was my first time really getting the chance to paint. It was a big turning point in my art [journey] and helped me discover my passion for acrylics.
Has your art style changed over the years?
My art style has changed a ton over the years. It depends on what style you are specifically asking about, because I have two. My first one is what I use for a lot of my paintings or more school [and] portfolio work. I tend to lean more realistic with this style, aside from a few personal changes I add, such as using specific colors for lighting or increasing contrast. This style has developed in a very predictable way, and I feel I’m just getting better at accurately drawing what I see. For my personal style, I’ve gone through many changes. I have played with more extreme stylization in this artm and maintaining a balance between cartoony and realistic has been a journey.
Where do you find inspiration for your art?
I find inspiration in a lot of things. For my school art, I tend to be very inspired by nature. In my freshman year, a lot of my art was animal skull themed because it was an interest for me at the time. I still paint skulls pretty often, but I’d say the majority of my art is either bugs or animals. For my own personal art, I’m inspired by the media I consume. I like making art of characters I enjoy, especially for books that don’t have a confirmed visual design for its characters. In the past, bugs and animals have always been a big inspiration. Ladybugs were my first big interest, so I drew them a lot when I was younger.
What is your favorite piece of art that you have created?
I honestly don’t know if I have a favorite piece of art. I really like this acrylic painting I did in freshman year of a dog and a cow skull. I wouldn’t be proud if I did it now, but at the time it was a real breakthrough for painting to me.
What are your favorite materials to use?
My favorite mediums for my art are acrylic, gouache, digital and pencils. I’d say I use digital and pencils the most.
How long does each piece of art usually take you to finish?
The amount of time a piece takes can vary depending on which one you are talking about. For my digital art, it averages like four to five hours for a finished piece that’s the size of my iPad. For traditional [art], I’d say I average around 12-15 hours if the canvas is bigger than a piece of paper.
What is your favorite thing to make art of?
My favorites things to make art of are animal skulls, bugs and my own character designs.
