Caitlin Milligan

What does art mean to you?

Art is terrifying, it’s impossible to do the whole of art as it’s in a constant state of change and evolution, however embracing art embracing the unknown has helped me embrace the world as a unknown, I’m excited for people I’ve never met and places I’ve never been, art has made me fall in love with possibilities, it’s something I will be doing for the rest of my life. I plan to do art as a career right now I’m leaning towards photography however that could easily change as I discover more.

How has art impacted your life? Do you plan to make art your career in the future?

Art means a great deal to me, it’s a freedom I feel not enough people take advantage of, and for some people it can even become a necessity. When I was younger me and my family lived in a abusive home due to my mother’s husband at the time, something that has since then been resolved luckily, however me and the other women in the house especially struggled as we were being monitored and isolated by the abuser. During that time both me and my elder sister took up art, it was one of the few ways we were able to express ourselves to keep a claim to who we were it was something that couldn’t be exploited and something private to ourselves, and quickly it became the way we survived.

What separates you and Caitlin from each other as artists?

As I said art reflects the person, so there are no better ways to tell differences than someone’s work. Me and her worked on a colab peice for the senior artist showcase, where Sofia chose darker colors, I used pastels, and with Sofia using the smallest brush for details her face an inch from the paper at some points for accuracy, I disregarded my brush a few minutes in in favor of using my hands to make large spirls. Neither way of our methods were wrong, however I have spoken to some of my friends for hours and never got as much of a understanding of them as a person as I did with Sofia making art with her. Me and Sofia are now both wonderful friends we even hang out outside of school now . But if you want to know the differences between two people ask them to both draw the same thing and watch carefully at how they display themselves for you.

What’s the biggest challenge you face when finishing an art piece, how do you get over it?

When I’m struggling to finish a art peice I put it down, alot of the time I’ll be able to return to it with vigar and grit, like stopping at a hurdle to back up for a running start. Sometimes I’m able to complete it other times it never gets completed and that’s ok. Art is about making things that allow you to express yourself, if what your making no longer allows you to do that then it’s already served it’s purpose, it’s best to let it go and move on to another project that fulfills you and not let it hold you back, and who knows sometimes your surprised and find yourself at that project again after you thought you were done with a whole new head of ideas. Don’t pressure yourself with your art it will happen when it’s ready.