Painting is different for everybody. Sophomore Maggie Lopez uses her artistic ability to paint her thoughts and feelings onto a once blank canvas.
Painting has been a big part of her life since she was in sixth grade. Her family originally sparked her interest in arts.
“When I was really little my mom would get paper and a book and we would draw from it,” Maggie said. “My dad draws from his imagination or he can draw from nature. My mom draws from pictures.”
Her talent with the brush prompted her to enter the UIL art competition where she received a score of four. This is the highest a contestant can receive.
“We waited three hours until we got our results. It’s very nerve-wracking,” Maggie said. “I was happy. Last year I got a three, and this year I got a four.”
She not only paints for competition but also in her spare time. She has painted many pieces including a dead flower, a car crash, and a bleeding heart. Her pieces tend to lean toward the darker side.
“Darker paintings are fun to draw,” Maggie said. “I’ve gone through some pretty tough times. I’ve seen a lot of funerals before high school and some family problems. It’s one way I can relieve stress.”
Maggie paints to express herself and show the world what she’s feeling. Her art allows her to speak her mind without even opening her mouth. She loves the freedom of expression it gives her.
“When I draw my emotions, I feel people understand even if they don’t know what’s going on in my life,” she said. “It shows my creative side. I love it. It’s great for expressing myself in my own way. I can let all my emotions flow onto paper without having to even speak.”
A wise person once said that a painting is worth a thousand words, and Maggie Lopez’s paintings are no exception. She uses the art as her voice so that the world will know exactly is what is on her mind. The paintings speak volumes in their own way.
