Maya Ash

Interviewed by Doris Abdolian and Elly Dawson

Grade

Mediums

2-D Art (Painting, sketching, charcoal, printmaking, etc.)

Classes Taken at Harriton

Art 9H, Art 1H, Art 2H, AP 2-D Art and Design

Self Introduction

Hi! I'm Maya! I'm a senior at Harriton, and I love making art, music, and anything creative! I also love cooking, hanging out with friends, video games, and science.

Interview

Art Focused Questions:

What's your favorite medium to create with?

I love working with acrylic paint. It is much easier to work with than oils and can be used for many different projects.

Are there any media you find yourself experimenting with more than others?

I do most of my experimenting digitally. If I'm unsure about a particular medium, I'll try out the digital version on Procreate or map out my composition and colors using Procreate.

What do you find frustrating about it?

For me, I find time management when making art to be the most frsutrating, regardless of what medium I’m using. I’m a naturally slow artist since I often like to take my time on every part, but this makes it really difficult to finish a piece in a timely manner sometimes.

What other art styles or mediums are you interested in?

I would love to explore more 3D work, such as sculpture or metal arts, and get more into oil painting. I also love fashion design, so it would be cool to experiment with clothing.

Who are your favorite visual artists? Why?

Some of my favorite visual artists are Gustav Klimt, Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Monet, and Zoe Strauss because I like how much emotion they all put into their artwork.

From where do you derive inspiration? How does that affect your artwork?

A lot of my inspiration for my work comes from music. Listening to and making music is one of my favorite hobbies and has helped me in so many difficult times, so I am always drawing inspiration from the music I listen to. Sometimes when listening to a song, I like to imagine a piece of artwork that could be the cover art for that song.

Is there inspiration that is more dominant than the other?

While music is one of my main inspirations, I'd also say I get a lot of inspiration from my own life experiences and emotions, as art has always been an emotional outlet for me. I also get lots of inspiration from other media, such as literature, movies, and nature, but music and emotion are definitely my main inspirations.

What is your sustained investigation or thematic exploration?

My S.I. (Sustained Investigation) is centered around music. I am exploring the healing properties of music and art and how these forms of expression have helped people throughout history.

How do you see yourself through your art? Do you see yourself?

A lot of my art comes from my internal struggles with my mental health or my emotions, so most of it represents my inner self at any given point in time. If I look back at certain pieces, I can almost immediately tell the mental state I was in when making them. My art also reflects my interests, so I definitely see myself through my art in many ways.

How do you plan to continue your art and incorporate it into your life in the future?

I intend to keep making art after high school, even if I don't get to be as consistent with how much art I can make. Art has always been a huge part of my life, so I want to continue pursuing it in college by taking some art electives and experimenting with new mediums.

What advice do you have for students who want to be involved artistically, but are unsure if they can fit it into their schedules in and out of school?

Joining an art class can be overwhelming, but you don't have to be the best artist to get the most out of an art class. Everyone comes in at their own level, and whatever level you are at, you can still produce great artwork while learning new things, even if it isn't perfect! Don't be afraid to try new classes you have never taken before either; you may find a new hobby you really enjoy! And if art classes don't fit your schedule, you should continue to pursue art on your time if it's something you enjoy! There is also plenty of art and creativity-centered clubs to join at Harriton, including Zenith, Art Club, Rampage, Corinthian, and the National Art Honors Society.

Less Art Focused Questions:

What’s your taste in music and/or what do you listen to while you’re creating?

I love almost every genre of music except a few country and pop songs, and I almost always listen to music while I'm creating. When I'm creating, I find that I'm most productive when I'm listening to jazz or lo-fi hip hop. My favorite artists are Bjork, Buck Tick, Beyoncé, Radiohead, Pink Pantheress, Kero Kero Bonito, Weyes Blood, Kelela, and Kendrick Lamar.

What are the clubs or electives you participate in/take at Harriton?

Outside of the art clubs I am in such as Zenith and art club, I work at a garden near Harriton and volunteer at Riverbend Environmental Center as an educator in training.

Speed Round

What is your favorite food?

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Favorite drink/coffee/tea?

Iced Tea

Favorite Animal?

Pangolin

Favorite Song?

Kerosene by Yves Tumor

Favorite Color?

Purple

Favorite Movie? Animated Movie?