With a brown colored pencil in hand, senior Caitlyn Moore smiles as she adds shades of color to her piece. She makes the final strokes to the drawing she started a year ago.

“I try to focus on one thing at a time, but sometimes I have to put a project aside and work on something else,” Moore said. “It’s kind of like writer’s block.”

Moore entered a summer workshop at TCU’s Art Academy where the participants completed three paintings within ten days. The paintings were displayed for friends and family to admire.

“It seemed like our projects required more attention during that time,” Moore said. “It was a much more serious environment.”

Moore has met some of her closest friends in art and found common interests among them besides painting or drawing.

“And more importantly it has allowed me to go out and see beautiful and profound things through art museums and other students’ work,” Moore said.

She receives much of her inspiration from nature and the spontaneous interactions between animals and their environment.

“I’ve been drawing ever since I could remember,” Moore said. “All the encouragement from my family when I was little really helped me develop my skills.”

Examining the work of her fellow artists’ craft enables Moore to appreciate her peers for their creativity and skill. At art galleries she can examine the effort and time put into the craftsmanship.

“Art is more of a hobby to me than anything, like reading a book,” Moore said.

Studies on art have shown artists convey emotions in a manner reflecting their inner self and beliefs. The manipulation of color, the emphasis of the strokes and the texture of the material collectively contribute to the overall tone of the artwork. Art teacher David Mason helped Moore with her artwork and offered support to continue pursing her passion as an artist.

“Caitlyn has tremendous potential and is not afraid to try new techniques or media she is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with,” Mason said. “I think that’s what sets her apart from other students. She’s not afraid to try something new and she continues the pursuit regardless of roadblocks.”

After four years of art class, Moore continues to paint and draw, hoping to make it a career in the future.

“I believe that most people, if they show perseverance, could become good or decent artists.” Moore said. “I do not like it when a person discourages themselves and says, they are not good and never could be. People should try to believe in their own potential.”