My name is Jessica Choi, currently a student attending Arnold O. Beckman High School. My favorite aspect about art is being able to gift my pieces to those I love; Seeing the smiles on their faces give me pure joy and happiness. There is no other artwork in the world that one creates; It's truly their own. I hope to continue this throughout my time at University and after within my career as well. I strive to make my work that one can look at for a handful amount of time and wonder what it is about, not that one simply passes by. Although on the outside my art pieces may merely look like a simple drawing, it carries deep meaning that can be interpreted in countless different ways. Ultimately, this portfolio illustrates my creativity, ability to think outside of the box, and lastly, my love for all mediums.
A large, thick, and textured sketchbook paper comprised of millions of tiny dots that have been strategically and purposefully placed forming an astonishing image. Whereas some may feel dizzy looking at these countless dots suddenly turn into one big, black circle, I see the brilliant and intricate technique of pointillism. For as long as I could remember, I’ve deeply cherished art in my heart. I find true pleasure in scrolling through images of actresses who I dearly admire and critically choosing the perfect reference to draw. I analyze the picture and spend seven hours simply sketching out the portrait with my Derwent 4H Graphite pencil. If one misproportion stands out, I disapprove, erase, and meticulously form strokes of line until I am satisfied with the rough draft. Afterwards, I spend additional minutes just to layout my Prismacolor and Faber-Castell Polychromos in a tactical order before beginning to color. I carefully study a section of my reference and slide my hand over the colors that seem to match with the image. Slowly taking each colored pencil, I hold it over the reference to see if it is an exact complement. Then, I start my final piece. It is a continuous work of layering and layering until the white paper is completely covered by mixtures of vibrant color. Whenever I am coloring, I am in a world of my own; this is a place where I can illustrate myself in ways I could never voice out. A single piece of artwork expresses a spectrum of qualities that represents who I truly am. Art is my therapy. I still remember my paper mosaic being exhibited in the Imagination Celebration; I look at people smiling, viewing, and admiring my work, wondering what it is conveying. This experience gave me an endorphin that will last within me for a lifetime. It taught me that art is not something that only brings me positive energy, but also towards my peers. It is something that makes people breathe with a distinct kind of jubilation.