Get to know aspiring artist, Ernest Zhang

take art soon painting, Snow in Toji Temple. He one day hopes to brag to his brother about the painting

“I wanted to take both art and architecture, but decided to take art in 8th grade and computer science as my other elective,” he says.

Mrs. Hsuan’s class taught him how to draw in 2-point perspective and how to use the proper architectural drawing implements.

Ernest’s art has not gone unnoticed by his peers He mostly entered Blach's Talon Show because of pressure. “My friends were egging me on,” he says.

He submitted a time lapse of him drawing a beautifully shaded street road, which earned him third place. “I was fairly surprised at that,” he says.

“The best part about it [mural club] would be just chatting while painting. It’s fun,” he says.

Being an artist has helped Ernest with developing his creativity “I couldn’t draw anything without

The translucent watercolors flood the paper, controlled by the tip of a paintbrush. The swirls of color may not look like much, but Ernest Zhang, a 7th grader at Blach, can change that.

Translucent watercolors flood the paper

With his artistic eye and attention to detail, the layers of paint slowly merge into a field of flowers overlooking a setting sun. The final painting was the destination, but the journey has been a much longer road.

Ernest started taking art seriously in first grade, and took art classes from when he was 8 to 10. Art interests him because he “likes things that have to do with design.”

Ernest loves working with ceramics, “though they never actually turned out that great.” His favorite medium is acrylic, which he considers a fun pastime.

Right now, Ernest is taking interior and interior design as an elective but plans to

Another one of Ernest’s activities is the school’s mural club, which meets every Friday

The club is working on recreating a Japanese a reference for a few years straight.” One skill he could improve on is drawing faces. Other hobbies of his include track and field, piano, reading, and caring for his plants. In two words, he describes himself as perfectionistic and open-minded.