Aspire to be an artist? Two young creators have some advice

Meet two rising freshmen at the University of Iowa who have been enjoying doing art and getting it displayed in public spaces — Krushi Patel and Aceel Ali.

Krushi Patel says ‘it’s OK to have imperfections’

Patel's favorite art piece is a cathedral drawn digitally that illustrates the concept of not having every small detail perfect. After watching a show in which the main character paints their favorite building, Patel was inspired to paint Duomo di Orvieto in Italy. This art piece was displayed in Iowa City West High School’s art hallway.

Patel has been creating art since she was in first grade. She makes digital art and paintings.

Q: How would you describe your art style?

My current favorite style is line art, but a bit more complex. So I draw buildings, it's kind of architectural but imperfect.

Q: What advice would you give to young artists?

A: Just make whatever you want. Don't listen to what other people say. Water doesn't have to be blue, it can be any color you want. Just use your imagination. Do whatever colors you like and make your own little world with whatever colors you want and whatever shapes you want. It's OK for mountains to be square.

Q: What are your art aspirations for the future?

A: I want to be able to display my art, specifically this line art because I don't draw in straight lines. There are so many imperfections and they kind of come together to make this beautiful art piece, and when you zoom out of it, it complements each other, and it looks pretty together.

I want to promote that it's OK to have imperfections because that's going to give it character and personality.

As an artist, Aceel Ali wants ‘to consistently get better’

Ali often uses her dreams as a source of inspiration, which leaves her art pieces with some vagueness that is filled by the audience's interpretation. The piece, inspired by a dream, was drawn on a canvas using both oil paint and watercolors. This piece was displayed in the Iowa City Community School District building and Veridian Bank. (Courtesy of Aceel Ali)

Aceel Ali has experimented with almost all mediums of art, from charcoal and pencil to oil painting and digital art.

Q: How would you describe your art style?

A: It got its influences from animé and western comics. I have always been a really big comic fan, so I get a lot of my inspiration from that. But it is slightly more realistic than those styles.

Q: What advice would you give to young artists?

A: Take what you can from your favorite artists, see what you really like about their art, and then you can try to incorporate that into your own style. Draw as often as possible, and also open your mind to learning, whether you can afford it or not. So just continue trying to better yourself, and you can learn while also using your imagination.

Q: What are your art aspirations for the future?

A: My main aspiration with art is that I continue to progress. I want to consistently get better. I don't want there to be a stopping place.

Mishka Mohamed Nour is a recent graduate of West High School, where she was an editor, reporter and designer for the West Side Story.