It seems that every artist has a different, particular style, unique to them. Some artists prefer a certain drawing tool or canvas type. Amanda Bungato (’12) is quite different from “the typical artist.” Although she mainly bases her art off of one particular style, she switches it up by adding different variations that each express her creativity in a separate way.
It all started when Bungato saw a manga, a Japanese comic book, at Border’s in fifth grade. The book caught her eye, and she liked how the people in the stories were drawn. Since then, she’s been copying the anime style while putting her own little twist on it by making minor adjustments and adding slight decorations here and there. “I love being able to express my creativity. It’s fun to just draw something whenever I feel like it. I mostly draw people, focusing on the facial features and hair. There are just so many styles that can be done. It’s just a great hobby to have,” said Bungato.
Contrary to many people’s opinions, an artist does not necessarily have to be a student in an art class at school. Bungato stated, “I’ve never even taken an art class before, so I really just draw on my own time and learn as I go.”
Bungato has learned a lot about drawing from drawing by herself. She has figured out everything that works best for her, such as which utensils she feels most comfortable using. “I only really use mechanical pencils to draw. I’ve tried paints before, but it just wasn’t my thing. Pencils can have more detail added with shadings and fine lines. It’s just what I am comfortable with and I’m able to bring a pencil and paper anywhere.”
As an artist, Bungato has to open her mind and hear what others have to say about her artwork. Constructive criticism is just simply part of her hobby. “When people tell me that something is a little off or could be done better, I usually try to improve as much as I can. I learn from their criticism and use that for the next drawing. It’s just more experience that will help me become a better artist,” she claimed.
Bungato plans to merge her artistic skills with her career goals to become successful; “I do hope that I can merge my artistic abilities and engineering in order to find a perfect major for me, but the closest majors would be graphic designing or computer engineering. I want to find a job that I will enjoy, but also earn enough money to do well in the future.”
Bungato would like to see other artists continue combine their creativity with their career goals. She also wants them to succeed in such a way that they become confident about their art, as well as themselves. “I hope that they keep up whatever skill they have in the arts and take that with them wherever they go. It’s important to see that being creative is just as important as being intellectual.”
