Emily Lanning is a junior and has been in the art program since sixth grade. She took it seriously in seventh grade and has continued till this year. She has competed in various VASE competitions, even advancing to state her freshman year. Lanning has taken advanced classes from Honors Art to AP Drawing. She also received an honorable mention in the Scholastic Art Competition and a perfect score on her colored-pencil drawing of a pig in the VASE competition this year. Lanning is a member of the National Art Honors Society and Partners’ PE.

1. What has been your favorite part of art?

Lanning: When I’m doing art, I’m not really thinking about a whole lot of stuff. So it’s just a way to focus on something besides myself.

2. What has been the hardest part about art for you?

Lanning: If I make a piece, or I’m in an idea rut, it’s hard to push through that. I feel like how good you are at art is based on the output of what you make. But knowing the process of getting the idea and then actually conveying it, is hard.

3. How were this year’s art competition processes?
Lanning: I think it was different in the sense that I was more prepared for the types of questions the judges would ask me, how to thoughtfully answer questions when they would ask me, and how to connect it to my piece. Sometimes you have to think in abstract ways to answer questions. So it’s not as basic as saying I colored this portion with a pencil.

4. What is your style of art?

Lanning: Drawing is my favorite style. I just like the fact that I can capture really small details with it and layer colored pencils on top of each other to create new colors. I really love colored pencils. I like looking at things with color. It’s a lot more interesting in some aspects than just black and white. A strength of mine is shading, and so being able to do that with a solid thing in my hand, rather than like a paint brush, I can’t really control the bristles as much and what they do. However, I can control the tip of the pencil and the colors that are on the paper.

5. What are your plans for art for senior year?

Lanning: I want to take a painting class. I’m looking into basic painting, which is kind of low-level, but I know that if I don’t take an art class my senior year, I’m probably not going to do very much art at all. I want to be able to keep myself in the art mindset and the environment. I’m in AP right now, and I feel like the task of submitting a portfolio can be overwhelming sometimes. I think in my senior year, I want to go back to loving doing art, rather than trying to make it fit a question for a competition.

6. Do you want to pursue a career in art, or in something related to art?

Lanning: Yes, so I’ve actually been looking into it recently. I definitely don’t want to do an office job. I want to use my creative abilities. So I’ve looked into graphic design, because marketing could be something I would like to do. I was also thinking of doing art therapy, so I can incorporate the skills that I have into my job, rather than having to translate my brain into another world.

7. Who is your favorite artist?

Lanning: Banksy. I think he’s cool because nobody knows who he is. He’s anonymous. I just like the fact that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He spray paints controversial artworks and representations of what he believes onto the natural architecture of an area. He uses decaying buildings or things like a broken pipe, and he works that into the message he’s trying to convey.

8. What has been your favorite project to do so far?

Lanning: In the beginning of the year, I made a painting. It was an eight-by-12 painting of a sunset, and that was one of the first paintings that I liked and was able to show my skill set in capturing realism. It helped me actually learn how to paint with acrylic paint and layer the paint, so I can capture light.

9. How did this art piece change your mind on painting?

Lanning: I think that was just like a fun project that I was able to get outside of my head, and enjoy painting. I learned a new skill and learned how to manipulate the paint to be how I wanted it to be, and then mix my own colors as well. It’s just fun.

10. How do you want to inspire future artists?

Lanning: Looking at the world around you and seeing the beauty of it. Like looking into the details of the color of water or the shading on a flag, and being able to replicate the beauty onto something on a piece of paper. I think it is really cool. Even if it’s not a strong suit, I think everyone is capable of some type of art. It’s like a muscle you develop over time. Sticking with the fun of it and not getting wrapped up in whether it looks good or not, and just making something that is in your own definition of beautiful.