[ot-caption title=” Leah Simon (via Rachel Rutstein, Junior)”]

This week Type One sat down with artist Leah Simon. Simon has been making art since as long as she can remember. This junior, who is enrolled in Studio Art AP, has mastered her craft, creating amazing art that astounds all. Simon talks about her challenge of overcoming the desire for perfection, along with the knowledge she has gained from art.

Gallery • 9 Photos

[ot-caption title=” Untitled Art (via Leah Simon, Junior)”]

T1: How old were you when you started making art?

Leah: There was never a definite point in time that I started. I think I’ve always had an innate drive for art ever since I could hold a pencil.

T1: What’s your favorite style of art? Why?

Leah: Exaggerated realism, which I would describe as capturing the likeness of the subject but enhancing its beauty. I particularly enjoy art with light-play and rich colors, such as that of Rembrandt or Caravaggio. Rockwell is also one of my favorites.

T1: Are you taking classes related to art?

Leah: I’m currently taking Studio Art AP and Art History AP.

T1: What is your favorite thing about art?

Leah: Art is an extension of the artist’s psyche. I love to see how an artist’s work reflects his or her frame of mind.

T1: Are you working on anything currently?

Leah: Yes, I’m working on a colored pencil drawing for my art concentration. It’s a portrait inspired by a reality, but expressed in a surrealistic form.

T1: What is your favorite piece you’ve made?

Leah: My favorite piece is always the one I’m working on in the present time.

T1: What is your favorite quote?

Leah: “Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well.”

T1: What are three words to describe yourself?

Leah: Meticulous, passionate, tenacious

T1: What is some important knowledge you have gained from art?

Leah: I’ve learned that there is no right or wrong in the world of art – it is simply a representation of the artist’s unique style. Evaluate yourself from an internal standpoint, not always the perspectives of others. Happiness shouldn’t be dependent on how much others value your work.

T1: How would you describe your creative process?

Leah: I like to thoroughly plan so that every part of my artistic creation has a purpose. Even if I have a plan, there will likely be surprises as I go, and the work still has a life of its own.

T1: What is your biggest challenge?

Leah: My biggest challenge is overcoming my desire for perfection. It’s frustrating if I feel that my work doesn’t meet my expectations, prompting me to persistently refine it until I’m satisfied.

T1: How will you use art for the rest of high school and your future career?

Leah: I plan to take the post-AP art seminar next year. The role that art will play in my future career is still undetermined, but I hope it will take me to unimagined places.

T1: What do you hope people will take away from your work?

Leah: I hope that when people look at my artwork, they see something they have never seen before, and that it provokes thoughts from which they can derive inspiration. I want to be a source of artistic inspiration for others who doubt themselves.