Hello all!! Welcome back to another installment of Marywood’s finest artists! This week, the student spotlight is about an artist that has caught my eye since before my freshman year even started! She’s got a great eye for light and color, and her painting skills are unmatched. I’d like you to meet . . .

Anna Napoli

I am majoring in Art because…

I am majoring in Art because it is something that has been very important to me for so long. Art is one thing I have always stuck with and have seen so much growth in throughout the years. The satisfaction of starting and completing a piece is a reward, and to hear so many people around me encouraging me to stick with it convinced me it is a talent I shouldn’t waste.

The kinds of things that inspire me are…

The kinds of things that inspire me are my past art pieces, nature, and other artists’ work. By looking at art I created years or even just months ago, I always find room for improvement. I get the motivation to either see how I can recreate a piece to make it better or even go out of my comfort zone and reach for a level of detail I never attempted before. This being said, I am very detail-oriented, which is why I find myself inspired by nature. There is so much detail in nature, whether it be the gradient of a flower petal or the number of different shades of green in the leaves of a tree, and I find it to be something I am constantly looking for while I am outside. Other artists also inspire me by what they choose to create and the process they go through. Many times, I will either see a piece I would have never thought to create, or I find a piece where I am then challenged to see what spin I can put on an idea. Many times, I will find detailed artworks and just look closely into what makes their piece so detailed, so I can apply those techniques to my own work.

When I am not in class…

When I am not in class, I am doing homework or hanging out with my friends. I love the environment of Marywood’s campus, so I often go to the library to do work. I am always finding something to do to keep me busy, so sometimes that means creating my own art in my free time, which I don’t have much of. Luckily, my art classes keep me creating art; however, the projects are not always what I would imagine me doing by choice, which is why it is still important for me to create my own pieces.

The coolest thing I have done at Marywood so far was…

The coolest thing I have done at Marywood so far was simply get involved…a lot. I take pride in my involvement and what I do around campus, whether it is my position as a Resident Assistant, being a member of the Art Department Student Council, or even holding the position of MUSATA’s treasurer. While I love to stay busy, I find it important that what I am busy with is beneficial for myself and others. I have learned so many new skills and met so many new people through my involvement, and have found myself to be more inclined to search for volunteer opportunities. While this isn’t a specific thing, I think the overall action of getting involved is cool.

When I graduate…

When I graduate, I will be coming back to Marywood for my Master’s degree. Part of the reason I chose Marywood was that they have a graduate program for Art Therapy. I am still going through the process of learning the different credentials to decide what route I will take after I graduate with my master’s, but as of now, the plan is to have my LPC and work as a licensed professional counselor.

I would recommend the Art program at Marywood because…

I would recommend the Art program at Marywood because it includes classes for so many different mediums within 2D and 3D art. The program gives students the opportunity to work with media they may have never used before and get them to think differently about their process when creating a piece. The Art program allows for many opportunities to have different works be exhibited, and the art professors are committed to helping students create to the best of their abilities.

What excites me most about Art is…

What excites me most about Art is the potential every piece has and how subjective it can be. There is no right or wrong to art, and to be able to see and hold something you, as an artist, created is so rewarding. While starting a piece can be intimidating and the process can be questionable, the most exciting part is watching it come together. Having an idea in mind and being able to make it happen gives the motivation to finish a piece and see what it can become.

I deal with art block by . . . 

I deal with art block by taking a break. Even when I’m urged to create something, it has always been important for me to step away and take a break. Sometimes the best way to deal with an art block is by not thinking about art at all. I often find that my best ideas or times of motivation come from everyday experiences that don’t have anything to do with art. Another way is by looking at my old art. By doing this, it is easier for me to get inspired and refresh my mind on what I am capable of.

How do you know when you have finished a piece? Do you think art is ever really finished?

I know when I have finished a piece when I feel accomplished. I often start a piece with the final product in mind. Not always is my final product identical to the initial idea, but when I know I am satisfied and proud of what I see, then I know it is complete. While I say art can be finished, there are some pieces that I feel are more open-ended. Some pieces are what they are, such as a drawing of a still life. In this case, I see the piece being finished when it looks like the still life that it is being based on. However, I had an experience in my 3D Design class where I thought a piece was complete. This project did not have a right or wrong take; I didn’t even have an idea in mind of what the finished product could be. When I thought it was complete, it wasn’t until the critique that I got suggestions for adding gold accents to my work. In cases like this, where a piece is so abstract, there is always room for improvement. With no right or wrong, a piece can constantly have things to add or subtract, looking complete no matter what is done to it, and in that sense, I would say it is never really finished.

I am in love with Anna’s artwork! Her works have such high level of detail and concern for composition! I am so impressed by the reflections in her water, and even more so in the vase of her “Roses.” Her painting of her art supplies is jaw-dropping. At first, I was amazed by the high level of understanding of planes, lighting, and composition — but then I was floored even further when I noticed that her painting of the sea is nested within this painting of the art supplies! I just cannot stop raving over how much time, attention, and patience Anna’s work demonstrates, and how much adoration she has for her craft. It is so inspiring to be able to see and learn from Anna’s creations!

Thanks for reading!
~Rebecca Prowse