A.P. Draw, Paint, Print Senior Spotlight Interview: Olivia Orr

The AP Drawing Portfolio is an intensive course, requiring students to produce art at the college level. Students compile a portfolio of 15-20 original artworks demonstrating mastery in composition, technique, and concept. They pursue the WHY behind their own artistic process and participate in weekly critiques of classmates’ work, as well as submit completed pieces approximately every two weeks. Be sure to mark your calendar for the Senior AP Art Portfolio Show in the Berg Gallery on the evening of April 24.

“Olivia Orr is a multi talented artist who spent part of the summer studying graphic design at the Savannah College of Art and Design and working on her portfolio. Her work is displayed in the galleries on campus, and she has won Gold and Silver Keys at the Regional Scholastic Art Awards,” said instructor Rebecca Hoadley. “Olivia’s work showcases her mastery of acrylics, colored pencils, oil pastels, and oil paints. She somehow managed to incorporate her wide range of skills into a unified and exciting body of work!”

Olivia, what is the central idea of your concentration?

The central idea of my concentration is that the night is the time where feelings are the strongest. I always feel like emotions are amplified and the most intense during the night time. It is my favorite because the mood and feeling the night brings is so different than in the day. Night can either be tranquil and quiet or lively and loud. It can be a time to wind down and recharge, or it can be a time to go out and feel alive. It is where the day is coming to an end or where the next one is beginning.

How does your work demonstrate the exploration of your idea?

My work demonstrates the exploration of my idea because I am exploring both aspects of the night and capture the beauty of both the tranquility and the commotion that the nighttime can have through ordinary things like city lights, sunsets, and shadows. I’m trying to show the juxtaposition of the states of night time and how beautiful both look to me.

How has your idea evolved over the year?

I would always paint nature and I would be drawn to painting reflections. My idea has evolved because I thought of what I really wanted to show people and have more meaning to my works. I thought of adding night into my concentration because it allows me to paint something important to me while also allowing me to keep painting nature and reflections. I have been a night owl my whole life and have loved staying up late because it is the time where I feel the most myself and where I thrive. I love knowing that not many people are up and that I can just have silence and time to myself away from the busyness of the day

 Can you explain your artistic process? Where do you gain inspiration?

For my artistic process, I love to make my art at night to express the mood and tone I feel at that moment. I also gain inspiration by going outside and looking at the moon and stars and also by listening to soft music in order to illustrate the certain vibe I feel at night. I also try not to plan everything out before and now I try to be spontaneous with my work.

How long have you been making art? And when did you start to feel independent and like you were truly making your own work?

I’ve been making art since I was young and I have always been creative. I am now able to create my own ideas and add to my creative voice, which is very exciting.