Junior Sydney Braaten has been drawing since she was about four years old, and art has always been a part of her life. “I suppose I’ve been drawing since I was that young,” she says, remembering when her passion first began.  Over the years, her relationship with art has evolved into something far deeper. “I get bored a lot, and with the whole epidemic going on with phones, I’ve been trying to draw more so I don’t spend too much time on my phone. But I really enjoy it. It’s something I’ve done my whole life and really care deeply about.”     When asked about her artistic style, she says it’s hard to define. “I wouldn’t really say I have a specific style. I like to do more character drawings,” Braaten said. “When I get a job, I want it to be in animation, maybe a character designer. I want to work in the animation industry.” She admits she’s not as skilled with backgrounds, so character drawing is where her focus lies. “I just feel more comfortable with characters,” Braaten said.     Being a digital artist, Braaten’s iPad has become an essential tool. “My iPad’s like my best friend. I’m a big digital artist, and it’s what I use the most for my work,” she says. The convenience of the iPad helps her experiment with new ideas and techniques, especially as she works toward her dream career. One of Braaten’s favorite pieces is a painting she made for her AP Art portfolio. “In AP Art, we do something called sustained investigations—15 pieces that form the base of our portfolio. My theme is childhood and growing up,” she explains. One piece that stands out to her is a painting of herself in a princess dress as a little girl. “It’s really cute, and it’s personal. That’s probably my favorite one.” Looking to the future, Braaten is excited about her goal to become an animator and character designer. She’s passionate about continuing to improve her skills and creating characters that will one day come to life on screen.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Art pieces done by Sydney Braaten