Featured Student:
Ava Fox

Q: How have you and/or your art evolved since you started working with Michela at AGF? What are some of the key things you learned that helped you to bring your skills to such a high level?

A:  I definitely would never have gotten to the level that I'm at without Michela, that's for sure. There are a couple key things I have learned that I think helped though. First is how to see; it's impossible to accurately draw what's in front of you if you can't read the information, and I think Michela did a great job of teaching me how to read the lines, angles, shapes, and relationships, all things I would never have thought about on my own. I would never have thought to compare where the shoulder is to where the top of the head is before Michela, for example. Second; I learned not to run from my style, and to do what feels right when drawing. I learned Michela's method well, and practiced it endlessly, but there are points in which I purposefully must stray from it in order to build my own confidence, and fall in love with my own art.

 

Q: Is anyone else in your family an artist? How did you get started in art? 

A: My older sister Olivia is the one who pushed me to start taking classes with Michela. She started with Michela before me, and improved quickly, which inspired me cause I wanted to be just as good as she is. She's now studying to become an animator in 2D mediums at Smith College in Massachusetts. 

​

Q: Do you have a favorite artist?

A: I don't exactly have a favorite artist, I like to admire works individually. I find it hard to fixate on any single artist as they never seem to have any more than one or two works that intrigue me. So as for my favorite historic work, I've always been fond of Gustav Kilmt's The Kiss. And for something more contemporary, I quite like Sun Yuan and Peng Yu's Can't Help Myself, which is rather odd for me since usually I usually can't stand modern art, and overall, I prefer 2D mediums.

 

Q: Do you have a favorite subject matter?

A: If you look at my work, you'd probably be tempted to say it's people, or still life, but that's only because that's what I'm best at. When I draw doodles or sketches for fun, my subject is just whatever happens to seem fun to me that day.

​

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: There is no one place I rely on to find inspiration. My inspiration usually just comes from an epiphany.

​

Q: How would you describe your creative process?

A: I don't have any specific rituals or routines, I just sort of go. Music makes things easier as well, I find that when I lose myself in some music, creating becomes much more fun and colorful for me. Anyways, in between sessions working on a piece, I always take a picture, and then spend a substantial amount of time over the next few days looking at that picture. I then mark up mistakes, or changes that need to be made, so that next time I can jump right in and fix them before I get the opportunity to overthink it. I always find it very satisfying when I finally get to correct my drawing after staring straight at my mistakes for days. This is probably the most unique part of my process, other than that, I follow the same technique Michela has always taught.

​

Q: Do you have any advice for young artists?

A. My advice for young artists would be similar to what I said earlier about what I learned, and that is to not stray away from experimenting with your style. Yes technique is important and a crucial foundation, but at the end of the day, you should be able to fall in love with your art, and I find the best way to do that is to embrace your own style and way of doing things. Essentially, do what makes you happy.

​

​