On May 9, senior Brooke Keller submitted her AP art portfolio, the sum of her artistic work throughout the past year and the entirety of high school. The 15 pieces contained in her portfolio include a mix of oil paintings, watercolor pieces, and oil pastel pieces to answer the question “ how has anatomy influenced society throughout the years different kinds of cultures?”
Keller first discovered her love of art when she was seven. “I was bored and my parents just gave me this random little sketchbook.” Her artistic interest increased from there.
with a fish and a human head. The artwork showcases how Keller combines a realistic style with fantastical elements. (Brooke Keller)
“ Ninth grade is when I got into oil paints,” Keller said, noting that oil became her main medium. Keller doesn’t only use oil paints, however. “ I draw every single day,” Keller said. “There’s so much that goes into that,” including ink and markers.
In her painting and drawings, Keller gathers inspiration from a variety of sources. “ I really do enjoy movies and I sometimes draw movie clips to try and figure out lighting.” Keller said. Along with movies, Keller is inspired by nature and occasionally paints landscapes. Solitude, such as what appears in nature, is impactful to Keller’s art. “Whenever I’m alone, I like looking at everything around me,” Keller said.
On the other hand, she enjoys the business and energy of cities. “ I feel like you get every kind of person,” Keller said. “Everything’s going on.”
Keller also draws inspiration from artists. “[For] Rembrandt, I really enjoyed the texture he captures in his paintings.” Keller said. “ And Waterhouse, I feel like he captures that era of Art Nouveau painting perfectly. Everything’s fantasy, but still real.”
Keller tries to apply aspects of these artists to her own art. “ I always appreciate any piece of work that has a secret meaning to it,” Keller said. “That’s why I enjoy Waterhouse because he’s always got a story with it.”
Keller replicated this in her own portfolio, for example creating three pieces that work together. “I was trying to play on Christianity with Adam and Eve and the sacrifice of the rib,” Keller said.
Keller is constantly trying to improve. “ I feel like it’s just good for me to go back to the basics with anatomy, and I would really love to figure out more about lighting and color,” Keller said.
Stylistically, Keller characterizes her art as a fusion between realism and fantasy. “ It’s my interpretation of realism, if that makes sense,” Keller said. Keller’s description is captured in her paintings that, while appearing life-like, contain fantastical subjects and features resulting in interesting compositions and heightened meaning.
Keller is going to college for nursing, but she still wants to continue drawing and painting. “I would definitely love to keep [art] on the side as a hobby at the very least,” Keller said. “It will definitely be in my life somehow.”
Keller’s work shows the importance of taking inspiration in carrying out self expression, but she makes the distinction between that and comparing yourself to others.
“ Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. I know there’s everything online with all these artists, but they’ve been doing it for years and years and years,” Keller said. “Just focus on what you want to improve and what you like about what you’re drawing, and I think you’ll find satisfaction in your art.”
