Sometimes, it only takes a few months for a student to fascinate the school with their artwork. That is the story of Sawako Ogino (11), named January Artist of the Month after just six months of studying art.
“I wasn’t expecting to get this award,” Ogino said. “So I’m really happy.”
While Ogino liked drawing — specifically, doodling — from a young age, it was never a serious hobby for her.
“I started just drawing by myself, probably, like, elementary school,” Ogino said. “[Taking the school’s painting class this school year was] when I actually tried to study art.”
For Ogino, art is like a sanctuary — a place to calm, shielded from an overstimulating reality.
“Art gives me time to relax, like I don’t have to think about anything,” Ogino said. “Also, when I paint, I try to not listen to music or anything, so that gives me time to get away from social media and also [not think about things like] next class’s homework.”
Not only is Ogino a new student to the world of art, but she is also a relatively new student to the school.
“I just moved to the school this year, and for the first few months, I had a really hard time making friends or fitting into the school since it felt really different from my old school, even though it was in the same state,” Ogino said.
Yet, her painting class played a vital role in motivating her to keep coming to school, at least just for first period.
“Although there were times that I didn’t really want to go to school because I felt so lonely, I [still] knew that first period was painting, so I was like, ‘Oh, maybe I could go to school for just painting, and then, I could go home if I want to after that,’” Ogino said. “That helped me go to school and try to find new friends a lot, and some people in my class just stepped up to me and said, ‘I really like your artwork,’ and [that] made me feel like [I] fit in.”
Ogino captures different subjects in her paintings, such as celebrities’ portraits, animals, nature and miscellaneous patterns.
“I guess the way I paint uses a lighter color than other people,” Ogino said. “So it might seem more like a fantasy [and] animation type of [art] than realistic,” Ogino said. “But I wouldn’t describe my painting as creative or anything, because what I draw or paint is something that’s real, but how I paint doesn’t make it seem real, I guess, because of the coloring.”
Beneath the vibrant fusion of colors and intricate details are layers of trial and error, in pursuance of the finished product Ogino visualizes.
“I like when I’m still practicing and trying to think about what I’m going to paint,” Ogino said. “Because when I actually start painting and do something not wrong, but didn’t expect, I feel like, ‘Oh, I should have done that or this.’ And then, I feel a little bit down. But when I’m just [drawing] on a random piece of paper … [there’s] no pressure. I can just draw whatever I want, [and] if I don’t like [it] I could just throw it away. I like to draw like that.”
Acrylic and watercolor are Ogino’s favorite types of painting so far. While her artworks are impressive as is, Ogino is eager to learn even more techniques, such as oil painting.
Although future plans are undecided, Ogino’s artistic journey is set to blossom, her brush stroking away for some beautiful creations that are yet to come.
“I’m not really sure about next year’s classes; I’m not thinking of taking [art] so far, since I have other classes that I’m more interested in,” Ogino said. “ I think I’ll just keep on doing it myself, just for fun.”
