Paige Edmisten

Grade:  11

Future college:  SCAD where I can expand my art and design skill and surround myself with people with similar interest, if not then UNT or Texas Tech

Future Job: work for a design agency where I can be a graphic designer and mainly focus on poster/layout designs

Years in digital drawing programs: 6 or 7

Inspiration: music, 21 Pilots

The pop-rock band, 21 Pilots, created a contest that allowed fans to create the cover of the poster for  their upcoming tour, Bandito. 

Wingspan: What exactly was the contest you won? 

Edmisten: “The contest was basically a poster contest that was advertising [21 Pilots’]  new tour, called the Bandito Tour. There were 32 winners and around 8,000 submissions, so I was one of those 32 winners, which is really awesome.”

Wingspan: Since you won, what does this mean for you?

Edmisten: “Well it really kind of validates me as an artist and you know it makes me feel really nice to know that my work was not only noticed by all the people that like chose the poster, but also by the band itself.”

Wingspan: What does it feel like, getting recognition from your favorite band?

Edmisten: “It really is mind blowing. It’s something I never expected would happen but always hoped would happen. I feel like I deserve it cause I worked really hard on that poster, and it’s nice to know that all my hard work paid off.”

Wingspan: How long did you work on the poster for?

Edmisten: “On the poster itself, I probably spent four hours. I mean I didn’t work on it like four hours in a row. But it took a few days, the planning, the concepts, getting all the resources.”

Wingspan: Why did you decide to enter the contest?

Edmisten: “Well it was an opportunity for me to be noticed, which is something that me and a lot of other artists are always keeping an eye out for. So I was sure to put in my best effort and really give it my all, because this is one of the few opportunities that I’ll actually get to have my art noticed by the band.”

Wingspan: How would you describe your art? Do you have a specific techniques?

Edmisten: “I really focus on color palettes. Because when I look at a piece of art, the first thing I notice is the colors and how they work together. So that is something I always keep in mind when I’m making a piece. I also like to have my brush strokes visible so it doesn’t look like a realistic photo but it looks like something that I actually worked on and like put effort into.”

Wingspan: How do you get inspiration for when you are painting/drawing?

Edmisten: “I definitely get inspiration from music, especially 21 Pilots, since they’re my favorite band. Not only music but I get inspiration from other artists and their pieces, cause it’s a really big community, and we all kind of take from each other, and borrow techniques and stuff. So it’s awesome to be part of that community.”

Wingspan: What drew you into starting to take art more seriously?

Edmisten: “I’ve been drawing my whole life, really. But what makes me want to pursue it as a thing in my future, is because it is something that I genuinely enjoy. And I don’t want to be stuck in a position where I’m doing something every day that I don’t enjoy. Because I think the goal to having a good life is doing something that you love every day, and drawing is something that I love a lot.”