Kiley Candon

My Year in High School Art

Creativity and handmade crafts are what drives my art inspiration. I have always been drawn to homemade gifts and objects that feel personal and meaningful. Art is about creating something both visually interesting but also making experiments by trial and error. I love finding joy and the excitement of trying new materials and techniques that I have never tried before.

My artwork uses a bunch of different mediums, which include sculpty, sewing, ceramics and anything else that catches my eye. Artwork for me is being able to use many different materials and try  out new things that I have neve tired before. Recently, I have been working with Sculpey clay to sculpt small objects and figures, while also learning how to use a sewing machine to create functional items such as bags. I enjoy combining different materials and learning new techniques, because each project gives me the chance to grow and challenge myself creatively. Even when something does not turn out exactly as planned, it becomes part of the learning process and pushes me to think of creative solutions and do better next time. I find inspiration in many places, especially from ideas I see online and from the work of other artists. Seeing what others create often sparks new ideas of my own, being able to twist it to fit my desires from there main ideas. I am also inspired by structures and statues that I encounter in everyday life. Public art and physical forms show how creativity can exist in the spaces around us. In particular, I am drawn to modern styles of art that use bold flashes of color and striking visual contrasts.

Another main idea of my work is the balance between functional use and appearance. By making something have a purpose and look nice is combining two things and saving space. I also enjoy making unique gifts for my friend, because handmade gifts are always better. In the future, I hope to continue developing my artistic abilities by taking art classes in college. I would especially like to keep working with ceramics and other hands‑on art forms whenever possible.