Featured Artist: Caity Maxon

Q: What kind of art do you do?

A: I do photography, painting, drawing and digital art. My favorite part of photography is using the film cameras and the enlargers. It gives you a sense of how people have been doing that and using that for a long time. There’s a bigger picture of what you’re doing. My favorite part about drawing is learning about shading with charcoal and different materials. And I like digital art because its easy to do if you quickly have an idea and you don’t have to really clean up afterwards. I think I like painting the most. It’s more of a physical thing. You can feel the paint moving. In photography it’s easy to go back and re-shoot or fix your mistake. Or in drawing, you can usually erase it. In painting, you just kind of go with the flow. It’s relaxing.

Q: How did you get into art?

A: I’ve liked art since elementary school. It’s just been a relief in my life. It’s always my go to thing when I’m upset or whatever I’m feeling.

Q: What would you describe your style as?

A: As an artist, I’m very messy. I do most everything that I do from emotion. It’s not often meticulous.

Q: What kind of art classes do you take at East?

A: I’ve taken Photo 1, I’m in Photo 2. I’ve taking Drawing 1, I’m currently in Painting 1. I think all the teachers at East are really great. They aren’t afraid to give you constructive criticism and they get on your level. I’ve had other teachers that talk down to you. The teachers at East actually want to see where I want to go, instead of just telling me what’s right and wrong.

Q: What are some of your favorite artists?

A: My favorite artist is Chuck Close. His art up close appears to be nothing. It’s crazy and to anybody else it would look like just scribbles. But he sees the bigger picture, no pun intended. He makes really amazing paintings.

Q: What are the biggest inspirations for your art?

A: My biggest inspirations is probably my friends and family and seeing what they’re going through. Just about everyone I know has a lot of deep emotions. I could sit there and think, “why is this happening to me?” but really, it’s happening to everyone in different ways. That really inspires me to make what I make.

Q: What kind of support do you get from your friends and family?

A: I get lots of support from everyone. I have lots of friends that are in art classes will me and will help me with whatever I need. It’s always been important in my family to let me do what I want to do.

Q: Do you see yourself pursuing art in your future?

A: I don’t want to pursue it as a career, but i do want to take more classes in the future and use it to express whatever I’m feeling and what stage of life I’m in at that point. I want to learn more techniques and how to express myself on different canvases and different materials.