Mika Lal

Name: Mika Lal

Grade: 12th 

Inspiration: Hayao Miyazaki 

Future job: Experimental psychologist

Wingspan: When did you start getting involved in art? 

Mika: “I was involved in art since I was little. I remember carrying around a sketchbook with me whenever my family and I would go out. In elementary school, I would also be playing around with sticky notes creating origami pieces.”

Wingspan: What made you choose art? 

Mika: “I chose art because of its endless creativity and the fact that I am able to create something using my imagination or inspiration from experiences. By choosing art, I am able to express myself and my feelings in another form.”

Wingspan: Do you see yourself continuing this in the future? 

Mika: “I definitely do see myself continuing art in the future whether that would be commissioning artworks or creating things for myself during my free time.” 

Wingspan: What kinds of art are you most interested in? 

Mika: “Currently, I am most interested in Impressionist art, animation, and pottery.”

Wingspan: What is your favorite thing about art? 

Mika: “My favorite thing about art is that it has no limits and I can do anything with it. I like that I am in control of how my artwork looks, even though sometimes it doesn’t look as how I imagined. I also like how there are so many art forms and materials that can be used to express my ideas. Personally, I love using watercolor because of the different techniques and brushstroke looks I can create.” 

Wingspan: What would you say is the most challenging thing about art?

Mika: “I think the most challenging thing about art is having to navigate my way to creating the piece I imagined. There were many times the pieces I made were not exactly how I wanted them to be. However, sometimes these pieces turned out to be better than what I thought they would look like. I also think it is challenging to completely finish a piece because there is always something more I can add or fix but I don’t want to mess up how it looks at the same time.”

Wingspan: What is your favorite art piece you have created?

Mika: “My favorite art piece I have created is from this year’s VASE competition. It is a watercolor piece showcasing the Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha) statue.”

Wingspan: What’s your favorite memory of art?

Mika: “My favorite memory of art was when I visited historical statues in Japan such as the Kamakura Daibutsu statue and the Oofuna Kannon statue. These Buddhist statues were breathtaking when I visited. I have many sketches and pictures of these statues which ultimately inspired my favorite art piece.”