A.P Draw, Paint, Print Senior Spotlight Interview: Courtney Cattin

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.

What is the central idea of concentration?

My concentration is focused on body dysmorphia spotlighting the appearances of women’s bodies and flaws they see in themselves.

How does your work demonstrate the exploration of your idea?
My work uses charcoal and graphite to display the gritty and fuzziness of skin, bones, and body parts that are highlighted in today’s society that have been made an aesthetic.

How has the idea evolved over the years?
In the beginning of the year, my concentration was based on the emotion behind the art, where in the middle of the year it has transitioned to more interpretive pieces where emotion is not shown as much as certain poses behind the pictures.

Can you explain your artistic process? Where do you gain inspiration?
My artistic process consists of trying charcoal materials and processes out, correcting it and I repeat that step until I get to my goal, whether I use compressed charcoal or willow charcoal, or I display the body that I draw in another position from what I am using as my reference photo. When working on my art, the music Ms. Hoadley plays, and the paint stains on my desk from the other class periods, are the little things that bring me joy and where I find my inspiration to come to class and do my art. I find most of my inspiration also from looking at my classmates, and seeing the amazing pieces they make as well as when they encourage me to do my best on my work.

What do you hope the viewer will see in your artwork?
When looking at my art, I hope that the viewer can see these glorified and broken displays of the human figure.

How long have you been making art?
I have been making art since I was a little kid but my sophomore year of high school was when I really found my passion for art.

When did you start to feel independent and like you were truly making your own work?
I start to feel independent and true to myself when I am working in the art studio and time passes by so fast that it feels as if I had only been working on my art for five minutes, when in all actuality I was working on my art for 65 minutes.