Senior Alayna Matern’s journey into the art world is woven with childhood memories and passion that has flourished over the years. Growing up in a household having an art teacher as a mother, Matern’s earliest experiences were filled with the vibrant tools of creativity. “Ever since I was a child, my life has been filled with colored pencils, markers, and hot glue,” she reminisced.
From those early days, Matern’s love for art has only grown; it goes beyond mere expression for her but is instead a therapeutic escape into an astonishing new world. She described the unique satisfaction of seeing her idea come to life on canvas: “Once I get into the zone, and everything just works, there’s a feeling of euphoria that can’t be replicated.…I love seeing an idea [in] my brain being executed in front of me.” In the midst of artistic triumphs and challenges, she added, “[Art] helps me let go, where if I have a plan or something, and it goes wrong, I can learn to work around it. It’s [also] empowering. My favorite feeling is when I’m drawing or painting, and I absolutely nail one aspect. [Stepping] away and being able to say, ‘I did that,’ [is] an amazing feeling.”
In her exploration of artistic mediums, Matern currently finds herself in an acrylic paint phase, reveling in the joy of experimenting with mixing different colors and shades. The versatility of acrylics allows her to experiment freely, pushing the boundaries of her artistic expression. “I just think it’s so [interesting] how blue can become all sorts of colors. [Using acrylic paint] also helped me artistically by [allowing] me to incorporate more colors and get a better grasp of color theory,” she explained.
The source of Matern’s inspiration for her pieces is diverse, sprouting from both online and real-life experiences. Social media platforms like Pinterest and TikTok help spark ideas: “Sometimes, I can just visualize a piece based off a TikTok, and then find ideas on other social media [platforms]. My last piece involved colors washing off of a portrait, and I was inspired by ’70s glam rock photoshoots and various photoshoots involving water.”
Matern’s artistic education has been a dynamic journey through various classes, each contributing to her growth. She has sharpened her skills, from Drawing & Painting I to Drawing & Painting II and the challenging course of AP Studio Art. However, it is in her current class of Portfolio Prep that she has found her creative haven:. “I love Portfolio Prep because I have freedom and time to explore mediums and ideas. [Even] though AP Art was the most difficult class I’ve taken, I think it taught me the most about creating original art. [I] learned how to take references, Photoshop, add different elements into my pieces, and tell a story through one image. Portfolio Prep is definitely my favorite class though; I like being able to do whatever [art] I want,” she explained.
As a vital part of the LHS artistic community, Matern serves as the historian of the National Art Honor Society, running the social media accounts and managing documentation: “I basically run the Instagram [page]…(@thefinestfinest). I love the National Art Honor Society; it truly provides an art community that is [so] amazing.”
Teachers who have witnessed Matern’s artistic evolution attest to her growth and willingness to take risks. Art teacher Tom Sena, in particular, notes her transformative journey as a senior: “Alayna has become much more of a risk-taker this year as a senior in the Portfolio Prep [class]. She’s working bigger and looser than when I had her as a sophomore in Drawing & Painting II, and that’s awesome to see!” Sena further highlights Matern’s unique approach to her craft: “Alayna is willing to try any material or technique I throw out to her. Even if it challenges her or takes her out of her artistic ‘comfort zone,’ she will experiment and see how to make it work in her favor.”
In college, Matern plans to major in neurobiology, and her future in the art world remains open-ended: “I’m not sure if I want to minor in art…and am not sure of where my art career will lead in the future.”
