Elizabeth Moosekian is 22 years old and currently enrolled in Henry Ford College’s Graphic Design Multimedia program. She’s been drawing since she was a little girl, and is especially passionate about drawing with charcoal. In addition to drawing, Elizabeth is an avid runner, and considers it another effective way to de-stress.

Bashair: What inspires your art?

Elizabeth: One of my recently favorite artists is Alphonse Mucha who is a Czech art nouveau painter and decorative artist. I love the way he [portrays] women so delicately in his paintings, the use of flowers and flowing curly hair, the subtle yet striking colors – all combined to create a compelling harmony of vision. His style inspires me.

B: What comes more naturally to you, digital art or sketching?

E: Sketching comes more naturally to me, but I love the endless possibilities that come from digital art, being able to create images that a pencil cannot.

B: Have you always known you wanted to be an artist?

E: I grew up with two very artistic parents, and I admired their dedication and creativity. Loved how much they enjoyed doing what they do everyday. I remember getting my first painting easel for Christmas when I was two years old; my parents taught me from that day forward that my artistic talent was genetic.

B: When you are drawing or coming up with an idea, do you ever factor in how others will react to the piece?

E: When I’m starting a piece of art, I always tune into what I’m feeling and try to express it as much as possible. Whether good, bad, mysterious, weird, crazy; there’s always a need to get the paintbrush or pencil on the canvas in the first place, I hope the audience feels it as well.

B: Describe your dream job.

E: My dream is to be an Art Director for film [or] television productions. They act as a project manager for the art department, facilitating the production designer’s creative vision for all the locations and sets that eventually give the film its unique visual identity.

B: Where are you headed after Henry Ford?

E: After Henry Ford, I really want to take a closer look at Columbia College, Chicago, [and earn] a bachelor’s degree in Advertising Art Direction. I see nothing but inspiration coming from that city.

B: What style would you classify your artwork as?

E: I personally haven’t found my style yet; I still have much more to learn about myself as an artist. Right now I’m still just having fun studying what’s possible and what I’m good at.

B: What is it about art that makes you passionate?

E: It allows me the freedom to create anything I want. There are no restrictions; any mistakes that are made can turn into something individual and special. There is no judgment from other people, because we each have our own creative niche and style in what materials we use. I love being able to use my hands, array of colors, making different shapes, textures, etc. I love getting lost in it, escaping from all the other chaos in my world.

Elizabeth ends our interview by quoting Canadian artist, Darryn James Rae, who on his online artist profile answers the question, “What role does the artist play in society?” with the following statement: “The artist is one that takes risks, makes changes and always develops new ways at looking at old trends and shaping them into something amazing. [The] artist is a different bread of human with an understanding of creativity and invention.” According to Elizabeth, “We all want our art to leave a mark on society.”