Artist Profile: Ary Chutkan
Ary Chutkan, a junior at OHS, never quits learning new styles of art and perfecting techniques she is skilled at. Ary has never had formal art training, yet, she has progressed outstandingly since the 1st grade. Her school art teachers inspired her to try everything from mixed media to free hand drawing. Even after her golden elementary age of art classes at school, Ary continued to do art for fun, and even applies her artistry in her other passion, theatere. An expert of special effects makeup, Ary brings to life so many characters in various plays and productions. (We all know who to book for Halloween makeup!).
Here are the need-to-know facts about OHS artist Ary Chutkan!
Types of art:
Ary paints, draws, and does digital art.
Details on her art career:
Ary hasn’t actually taken art classes. She was inspired by her school art teachers who taught her many of her favorite types of artwork: mixed media (clay work), copy art (freehand), and portraits. In middle school, Ary also took up special effects makeup after joining theatre.
The role of art in her life:
Art is just part of Ary’s family! Her grandfather is an art teacher and her mom likes craft. Having grown up around art, it is yet another way for Ary to evoke emotion. Ary loves bringing aesthetics into her life whether it's creating fashionable clothes or baking delightful treats. She also values the artistry of many other fields such as literature and debate, which she is also very skilled in.
Works that she is most proud of:
Some of her favorite artwork include clothes that she has decorated and altered as well as a portrait of her friend, Paula. She’s especially proud of the green hair that beautiful contrasts the black and white portrait.
Spare time fillers:
You can see Ary working on her doodles, pencil work, profiles, ballpoint pen art, and, of course, drawing friends!
Favorite artist:
Her favorite artist is Van Gogh. “Impressionism is not hyper-realistic and it is so interesting how you can evoke an image without it being the exact carbon copy,” says Ary.
A medium for helping and connecting with people
Art is token of affection for Ary– definitely expressed through the lovely drawings of her friends. It;s her way of telling her loved ones, “This is how I see you in images.” She also used her artwork in an intolerance project about the Rwandan genocide to raise money for Adventure Project– efforts in practical solutions for real world problems. Watch out for Ary this Halloween, as she runs a charity event where she will be auctioning art!
Her words to us:
Ary encourages all of us to keep trying art. It doesn’t matter if we are limited to stick figures and circles that resemble strange prokaryotic bacteria. She urges us to try new art styles where we may discover our talents in. “I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t kept trying.
