Works of Art
Photo: Katrina Warren, a Blair senior, has been an artist since long before quarantine. However, the pandemic has influenced her art. “It's given me more time, but at the same time sometimes you know when you have a really busy schedule it gives you more inspiration to do stuff whereas when you have unlimited time it can be hard to be creative, but overall, it’s been good,” she says.
Katrina Warren, a Blair senior, has been an artist since long before quarantine. However, the pandemic has influenced her art. “It's given me more time, but at the same time sometimes you know when you have a really busy schedule it gives you more inspiration to do stuff whereas when you have unlimited time it can be hard to be creative, but overall, it’s been good,” she says.
Holding On
Photo: Inspiration can come from all kinds of places and is different for different artists. “Usually the ideas for paintings come from conversations… Last year it was about religion, I was questioning [it] a lot so I talked to different people with different perspectives and that’s usually where the inspiration comes from,” said Katrina.
Inspiration can come from all kinds of places and is different for different artists. “Usually the ideas for paintings come from conversations… Last year it was about religion, I was questioning [it] a lot so I talked to different people with different perspectives and that’s usually where the inspiration comes from,” said Katrina.
Melting Away
Photo: This painting is Katrina's most recent work. Her inspiration for this one came from her AP Literature class. “We’re reading a lot about existentialism and how this one author Albert Camus was very strong on just focusing on the simple pleasures of life like a cigarette or a glass of wine or those little luxuries, but if you focus on those things you can see how she’s happy in the moment, but she’s also sorta melting away,” said Katrina.
This painting is Katrina's most recent work. Her inspiration for this one came from her AP Literature class. “We’re reading a lot about existentialism and how this one author Albert Camus was very strong on just focusing on the simple pleasures of life like a cigarette or a glass of wine or those little luxuries, but if you focus on those things you can see how she’s happy in the moment, but she’s also sorta melting away,” said Katrina.
Tiny Details
Photo: Artists are constantly growing and improving. Katrina explained that her growth has mainly focused on shifting from solely painting pretty pictures to taking on big concepts. “As I’ve grown older I’ve kinda realized there has to be more behind something for it to hold more meaning so that’s kinda what I’ve been trying to do and I think I’m getting somewhat close,” said Katrina.
Artists are constantly growing and improving. Katrina explained that her growth has mainly focused on shifting from solely painting pretty pictures to taking on big concepts. “As I’ve grown older I’ve kinda realized there has to be more behind something for it to hold more meaning so that’s kinda what I’ve been trying to do and I think I’m getting somewhat close,” said Katrina.
Self Portrait
Photo: Katrina is one of many who have felt the lack of motivation during quarantine, despite the extra time. Her advice to overcoming it is: “Try as much as you can to FaceTime other people and talk to your family members a lot, just the more interactions you have with people, the more inspired you’re going to be,” she said.
Katrina is one of many who have felt the lack of motivation during quarantine, despite the extra time. Her advice to overcoming it is: “Try as much as you can to FaceTime other people and talk to your family members a lot, just the more interactions you have with people, the more inspired you’re going to be,” she said.
Success
Photo: Katrina also gave advice on becoming a better artist skill-wise and trying new things. “This might sound cliche, but literally just try it, you have nothing to lose, the worst that could happen is that you could make something and not like it,” she said. If you're considering trying something new during the pandemic, do it!
Katrina also gave advice on becoming a better artist skill-wise and trying new things. “This might sound cliche, but literally just try it, you have nothing to lose, the worst that could happen is that you could make something and not like it,” she said. If you're considering trying something new during the pandemic, do it!
Knitted Outfit
Photo: Allegra Cronin, a Blair junior, took advantage of the free time presented to her because of quarantine and honed in on her knitting projects. “Mostly because I had time to do it and had some yarn laying around,” Allegra explains.
Allegra Cronin, a Blair junior, took advantage of the free time presented to her because of quarantine and honed in on her knitting projects. “Mostly because I had time to do it and had some yarn laying around,” Allegra explains.
Scarf Up Close
Photo: Using knitting to pass the time, “At the beginning of quarantine, I started this vest and did it actually when I was watching movies,” Allegra describes. She started knitting in 6th grade where she learned how to knit from an after-school club but hadn’t finished any projects until quarantine.
Using knitting to pass the time, “At the beginning of quarantine, I started this vest and did it actually when I was watching movies,” Allegra describes. She started knitting in 6th grade where she learned how to knit from an after-school club but hadn’t finished any projects until quarantine.
The Next Goal
Photo: Right now, Allegra is working on knitting something new with an advanced pattern, but she says, “I looked up patterns online and I can’t understand them.” It’s proving to be a challenge so far.
Right now, Allegra is working on knitting something new with an advanced pattern, but she says, “I looked up patterns online and I can’t understand them.” It’s proving to be a challenge so far.
Potholder?
Photo: Allegra has found that knitting has benefitted her mental health during quarantine. “It was calming, and it was also something to do with my hands which was nice,” she says. Allegra’s advice for other artists is this: “Just do what you feel like. I didn’t have a specific plan. I said ‘What should I knit?’ and my dad said, ‘A potholder,’ and I was like ‘It's better as a hat.’”
Allegra has found that knitting has benefitted her mental health during quarantine. “It was calming, and it was also something to do with my hands which was nice,” she says. Allegra’s advice for other artists is this: “Just do what you feel like. I didn’t have a specific plan. I said ‘What should I knit?’ and my dad said, ‘A potholder,’ and I was like ‘It's better as a hat.’”