AP art student Erin Jung’s work is widely known within the student body for its brilliant colors and themes, which entice viewers to think about art from a whole new perspective. Turning the corner to go to the lunchroom, it is hard not to stop and admire her colorful portraits, which adorn the walls. Entering the art room, a charcoal cat jumps out from a white canvas, and on Snapchat, the Hackley geotag designed by Erin catches everyone’s eyes.

This year, as an AP student, Erin has created some of her most sophisticated and creative pieces yet, with her concentration which focuses on “the beauty of the human body” through double exposure including projections and distortions to the human figure. These unique portraits captivate all viewers with their bright colors and unique patterns which alter the human form. This theme was inspired by a desire to “celebrate the human body and challenge the viewer to see something different than what is normally there,” said Erin.

To achieve such captivating effects, Erin projects different patterns and images of anything from clouds to sequences of lines and shapes. The images she uses “represent surreality and mystery,” said Erin. Using digital skills and media like Photoshop, she distorts and highlights certain areas of her subject to create double exposure and a subject she is able to paint through layers of carefully selected colors and different brushes which create abundant details which come together to form an awesome piece of art.

“I chose those designs because I thought they were interesting…and I’m into detail because I like to exaggerate [the detail],” said Erin. This particular theme is exciting for Erin to work on as it forces her to work hard and is a culmination of her love for painting and her passion for digital art, both talents she would like to work with in the future.

Art has always been an important part of Erin’s life but she did not think that she would pursue it seriously until recently; Erin now hopes to continue her study of art in college and has used it to inspire other aspects of her life. “Art has inspired me because it was always something I like[d] to do since I was little,” said Erin.

Ever since kindergarten, she has encouraged her artistic talent through classes and crafts and developed a love for the subject. “ I recognized it as something I could accel in and it was something different from what anybody else [in my family] did…it was a way to create things which was fun,” said Erin.

Although Erin enjoyed art she never took it seriously until she arrived at Hackley in ninth grade. “I didn’t really know that I wanted pursue [art] until I was in high school. Hackley really pushed me to [discover] what my limitations are and what I could do,” said Erin.  She credits some of her achievements and passion to the art teachers she has had at Hackley. “Mr. Green and Mr. Cice motivated me to work hard and helped me to further my art[istic abilities],” she said.

Erin believes that the other hobbies she has pursued have helped inspire some of her art, and on the flip side, the discipline she has had to show towards her art has helped her outside of the studio. As a runner on the cross country and track teams, Erin likened the determination that she has had to have during races to that which she needs to finish her art pieces and admitted that her running career as helped her become a better artist.

“Running teaches me to push through art pieces because in a race you want to give up and you want to give up, but you don’t, which I’ve applied towards my harder art pieces when I don’t think I can finish,” said Erin. In both activities Erin has learned and demonstrated perseverance and patience, very important but challenging skills, which she has been able to apply to other areas like the classroom: “I have learned to pick myself up and continue [with what I’m doing],” she said. Erin believes that the virtues she has learned from art have made her a better person.   

In both activities Erin has learned and demonstrated perseverance and patience, very important but challenging skills, which she has been able to apply to other areas like the classroom: “I have learned to pick myself up and continue [with what I’m doing],” said Erin. Erin believes that the virtues she has learned through art have made her a better person.   

Erin has learned many skills from the Hackley community and especially the art teachers she has had, and has managed to give back to the community by using her artistic talents. In addition to her paintings which brighten up the hallways, last year she designed the popular Hackley geotag on Snapchat. In order to give Hackley a larger presence on social media, Community Council organized a contest for the best student-designed geotag, which Erin won. The commonly used tag, brings smiles and Hackley spirit onto Snapchat.

During her time at Hackley, art became a significant part of Erin’s life and something plans to continue in college. After college, Erin she hopes to work as an animator for children’s TV shows or as a graphic design artist for video games.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Credit: Robert Hallock

Erin poses with one of her latest paintings.