ART OF THE BODY

10.28.20 | FEATURE 17 ART OF THE BODY

Senior Lucy Vincent plans to incorporate her love for art into a medical career.

Written by Liz LaHood and Katelyn Gau, Design by Bella Rinne, Photos by Grace Davis

Years of honing her art supportive of her art and expected she wants to pursue is called “medical skills and studying her to pursue it as a career. He said he illustration.” She said she thinks different science was very impressed by her growth, not medical illustration is a good fit for disciplines has allowed only in terms of artistic talent, but also her attention to detail and interest in senior Lucy Vincent to in her work ethic and creativity with science. pursue medical illustration, a career different concepts. “Medical illustration basically is that requires the application of two “I think what she’s doing now is where you illustrate medical diagrams, of her uniquely opposite interests. really awesome, and I think she has people’s bodies or a specific part of Vincent said her experimentation with improved a ton in the last couple of the body to help patients or families different styles of art from a young age years,” Kyle said. understand the medical process,” initiated her desire to use her artistic Vincent said she has taken just about Vincent said. talent in a future profession. all of the art classes that Blue Valley Vincent talked about different classes

“Since I was really little, when Northwest has to offer. Two of her that helped influence her interest in someone would ask me what I wanted favorite classes at BVNW are painting careers in the medical field, saying to be I’d always say ‘Oh, I want to grow and portfolio. According to Vincent, her that her chemistry and physics classes up and be an artist,’” Vincent said. specialty is painting, which is what she made her realize her love for science.

Her older brother, Kyle, and her is currently focusing on. She said that she had considered other grandfather have greatly influenced “Portfolio class is what I really enjoy, medical careers before learning about her path to becoming an artist, because it’s oriented toward preparing medical illustration, and is currently Vincent said. Her grandfather was your art portfolio to show to colleges,” taking anatomy to further her progress a photographer, and she and her Vincent said. “You get to come up with toward that possible career. family would often go to his exhibits the theme of art you want to pursue for “I had thought about possibly at art fairs. Vincent said Kyle was also your portfolio and you get to work on pursuing a pediatric medical career interested in art and encouraged her to whatever projects you would like to put because I love kids, and I’ve worked take art classes, even before she was in in there.” with kids all my life,” Vincent said. “I school. Vincent said she likes to paint the like helping people in general, and I’d

“She’s always been doing some form interaction between humanity and like to be able to help make kids feel of art,” Kyle said, “whether it’s drawing, nature, and tends to focus on the tiny better.” watercolors, oils, acrylics or ceramics.” details within her realistic drawings. Although Vincent said she would like

Kyle said he has always been The specific style of art Vincent said to combine her love for both science

and art into a career, she said her alternative plan is most likely for a medical career as opposed to one in art, and is looking into different opportunities to further her medical knowledge and experience, such as the medical CAPS program and the medical club at BVNW.

“I’d probably look into the medical career if I can’t combine the two,” Vincent said. “I will probably not end up pursuing just an art career because it’s just so difficult to make a living with that, but I would definitely continue to do that on my own.”

After observing her in class for the past three years, BVNW art teacher Chris LaValley said Vincent’s confidence in her skill has had the most effect on her artistic growth.

“I think the biggest thing I’ve seen is just her self-esteem and her understanding of her own talent,” LaValley said. “She definitely feels more comfortable in her own skin as an artist.”

LaValley said Vincent’s attention to detail, willingness to experiment with different mediums and her ability to take her time on projects would help her be very successful in the medical illustration field.

Vincent said she is nowhere near the end of her art journey and will continue to progress moving forward. Nonetheless, she is hopeful that she will combine her passions for both the medical and artistic fields in a career setting.

“[My journey] is still a work in progress,” Vincent said.

Top: Vincent poses in front of her self portrait. Vincent painted this piece for her Painting II class.

Bottom: Vincent takes notes for her Anatomy class, Sept. 23. Vincent wants to have a career in art and the medical field.

Since I was really little, when someone would ask me what I wanted to be, I’d always say, ‘Oh I want to grow up and be an artist.’

-LUCY VINCENT