By Selina Zhou
It was challenging to decide on which art strand should be the main focus before interviewing Kelly Cao, a grade 11 student who can often be found painting in the art studio or playing with lenses in the photo room, and at the same time having an ARCT Diploma for piano under her belt. Evidently, finding time for all these artistic pursuits along with a heavy grade 11 course load was not an easy task. However, when asked why she chose to invest time on the various art strands despite not planning on becoming an art student, Kelly explained that she always believed that “it is really important to learn art in general, because everything in life requires creativity and artistic ideas”. For example, photography allowed her to “get a new perspective on life”.
For Kelly, art is perhaps less of a skill, but more like a way of thinking.
It was challenging to decide on which art strand should be the main focus before interviewing Kelly Cao, a grade 11 student who can often be found painting in the art studio or playing with lenses in the photo room, and at the same time having an ARCT Diploma for piano under her belt. Evidently, finding time for all these artistic pursuits along with a heavy grade 11 course load was not an easy task. However, when asked why she chose to invest time on the various art strands despite not planning on becoming an art student, Kelly explained that she always believed that “it is really important to learn art in general, because everything in life requires creativity and artistic ideas”. For example, photography allowed her to “get a new perspective on life”.
For Kelly, art is perhaps less of a skill, but more like a way of thinking.
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Other than studio arts, photography, and piano, Kelly enjoys singing, exploring home decors, “listening to the sound of rain”, “travelling around Vancouver to try out new desserts”, “trying out coffee”, and peculiarly, having a profound interest in eyebrows. She also spends a lot of her free time as a private piano tutor, using her skills to “teach the next generation”. With her bountiful cheerfulness and optimistic personality demonstrated throughout the interview, it is not hard to imagine Kelly as an inspiring and fun teacher for young children.
At the age of three, Kelly started learning piano and violin, but later decided to stop playing the violin and continued with piano. She has been into various art strands at a very early age, and she recognized that a lot of her early artistic talents were developed with help from her parents. Born in China, Kelly moved to Canada when she was five, spending a large portion of her childhood under the influences of western art concepts. In grade three, she moved back to China, and this opened her eyes to art in a very different culture. She was exposed to a mixture of different art styles, and she began learning and practicing pencil sketching and other technical skills in art studios. She also learned Chinese calligraphy, which really trains the eyes in composition, as well as a meticulous, artist’s hand.
At the age of three, Kelly started learning piano and violin, but later decided to stop playing the violin and continued with piano. She has been into various art strands at a very early age, and she recognized that a lot of her early artistic talents were developed with help from her parents. Born in China, Kelly moved to Canada when she was five, spending a large portion of her childhood under the influences of western art concepts. In grade three, she moved back to China, and this opened her eyes to art in a very different culture. She was exposed to a mixture of different art styles, and she began learning and practicing pencil sketching and other technical skills in art studios. She also learned Chinese calligraphy, which really trains the eyes in composition, as well as a meticulous, artist’s hand.
When asked what does “Art as a means of expression” mean to her, Kelly replied that “it means to be bold with your ideas, to be creative, unique, and original”. She described herself as quite a shy person, and she doesn’t really like to present herself in public that often. Art has given her a way to present her ideas without really putting herself out there physically. Besides expressing herself, she always recognized the importance of understanding the “unspoken language of music”.
Kelly’s favourite art medium is oil painting, jokingly commenting that she likes the smell as much as the texture. She also has a strong preference for watercolor, a medium she has studied for four years. A lot of her inspiration comes from Instagram, Youtube, her friends and teachers, as well as her favourite artist, Picasso. Her favourite art style is impressionism, relating that to her favourite pianist Debussy. This shows Kelly’s understanding of interdisciplinary connections between the various art strands. She describes herself as having a lot of creative ideas, but when I asked her to comment on her technical skills, she replied being “inclined to reserve all judgements”, quoting Nick from the novel The Great Gatsby.
Kelly’s favourite art medium is oil painting, jokingly commenting that she likes the smell as much as the texture. She also has a strong preference for watercolor, a medium she has studied for four years. A lot of her inspiration comes from Instagram, Youtube, her friends and teachers, as well as her favourite artist, Picasso. Her favourite art style is impressionism, relating that to her favourite pianist Debussy. This shows Kelly’s understanding of interdisciplinary connections between the various art strands. She describes herself as having a lot of creative ideas, but when I asked her to comment on her technical skills, she replied being “inclined to reserve all judgements”, quoting Nick from the novel The Great Gatsby.
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“If you are an ‘artiste en herbe’, follow your dreams! Don’t be shy to express your opinions, as they are just as valuable as anyone else’s,” are Kelly’s inspiring words for budding artists.
In the future, Kelly hopes to travel the world, backpacking with her camera and friends. She also plans on teaching her children piano herself, and doing art in her free time as a form of self-expression as well as a way to relieve pressure.
“I also want to learn latte art and start my own brow product company,” she admitted laughingly.
Undoubtedly, art will continue to play an important role in Kelly’s everyday life. We wish her the best of luck in all her bold and exceptional pursuits!
In the future, Kelly hopes to travel the world, backpacking with her camera and friends. She also plans on teaching her children piano herself, and doing art in her free time as a form of self-expression as well as a way to relieve pressure.
“I also want to learn latte art and start my own brow product company,” she admitted laughingly.
Undoubtedly, art will continue to play an important role in Kelly’s everyday life. We wish her the best of luck in all her bold and exceptional pursuits!
