Heres the Featured Young Artist interview for the website, her name is Ana Pappa.
Interview continued from All About ArtHaus Volume 4 Issue 2, 2012.

Ana is a award winning Senior at Spruce Creek HS who aspires to get a college degree in the Visual Arts. Ana was the Spruce Creek Nominee for student Volunteer of the year for her work with gathering materials and raising the funds to send to a village close to her family home in Guatemala. She has also been juried into Florida State Fair for the past three years. She has had pieces juried into Volusia Select. She interned last summer in the Art Department with Direct Marketing Enterprise printing in Daytona Beach.

Interview with Ana Pappa by Director Laurie Gomon Ring

When did you know that art was important in your life?
Ever since I was able to hold a crayon in my hand. Art allowed me to explore my imagination in every way. I feel like kids these days are constantly being told what they can or can not do, or what's expected of them, but art is one of the only things that has no restrictions. I think I appreciated that from a young age and still do today.

Who are the people/ teachers who inspired you to pursue art?
My Aunt Sarah has probably been the most supportive person in all aspects of my life. She encouraged us to draw and enter school exhibitions, and always reinforced our ability to succeed. All of my high school art teachers have been tremendously involved in my progression as an artist. Mrs. Cindy Jesup is one of the people I can thank the most for my success. She pushes her students to be better and learn more, and I think that persistence really does make a difference. Mr. Joe Vandenburg has also been one of my greatest mentors. He adapts his teaching methods to each of his students, basing it off what they want to accomplish. He is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to his students.

Are there special artists that you love and find fueling your ideas for your artwork?
Because my style is digital, I am much more inspired by contemporary artists such as David Carson, April Greiman, Julien Pacaud, and Maggie Taylor. I am drawn to artists that not only use Photoshop as a primary tool, but also that incorporate modern elements such as type, shapes, and plays on perspective. More recently I have been very inspired by collage techniques with vintage elements such as Hannah Hoch and Raoul Hausmann.

What are your plans after high school?
My main aspiration is to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design. I have already been accepted and am currently structuring my financial plan to get there. I would also be interested in attending the Art Institute of Chicago if my first plan fails. For now I will try to go into Graphic Design and maybe double major in Advertising. After speaking to many students of SCAD and visiting the school myself, I believe that my opportunities are endless --maybe I'll find something completely unexpected that I'll find a new love for. In the long term, I hope to become a magazine editor or creative director.

How would you describe your art?
I would describe my art as modern, playful, and light-hearted. I don't tackle difficult topics or serious ideas because I don't find myself mature enough to do so just yet. I am young and happy and I think that my art reflects that free-spirited youth. I find one of my strengths to be composition, and my work is very aesthetically pleasing. My work tries to ask the universal questions or explore the common ideas that teenagers, especially, may come across on their path to growing up.

What was your experience in having your artwork displayed in the ArtHaus gallery or other galleries?
I always feel a sense of pride to know that my work is being displayed in galleries. Having my artwork displayed at ArtHaus is especially exciting because I feel like I'm sharing my work with my local community members and hopefully younger artists that will be motivated to pursue artwork more. Seeing your artwork appreciated by others makes you appreciate your artwork even more.

What advice would you give a youngster interested in developing their artistic skills?
I would tell them that one of the best ways to develop as an artist is to study past artists. There are a tremendous number of artists, styles, eras, techniques, etc. that we are so unaware of. By exploring these various topics, a young artist may be able to find earlier what certain things interest them or inspire them most. After that, it is most important to not copy past artists, but merely take bits and pieces of inspiration and apply your own personal touch or style to the artwork.

Do you feel that ArtHaus is valuable and worth supporting?
ArtHaus is 110% worth supporting. Any organization that dedicates their time to making young people feel worthwhile is valuable. Kids have such a range of ideas and imagination that it would unfair to not display it. ArtHaus supports the community that you live in a unique and special way.

Blue Alley 2011



Geometric Triangle 2011



Straight On Til Morning 2011