Art is something that takes time to master, but as Pablo Picasso once said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” All kinds of art require patience because each piece tells a different story.
Senior Mimi Huelster, who has taken a number of art classes at SPA, has learned along the way that art is about perseverance: Huelster said it’s not uncommon for people to tell her that starting art is hard. But to that, she said, “Anyone can sit and actually try, and many people have never tried.”

Huelster has been drawing and painting since she could hold a pencil, and also comes from a family of artists, so she feels very lucky to have grown up in such an artistically supportive environment. She has practiced her style of art through repetition and not being afraid to try new techniques and styles. She says, “experimenting with art is how I create some of my best work.”

Huelster likes to do portraits, as well as the occasional landscape or abstract painting. Some key advice Huelster follows when painting is, “practice is key, and start small.”

Those are all tips she wishes she had known when she first started with art.

Huelster encourages people to just sit down with paper and a writing utensil and take their time. Her advice for more experienced artists who are having a hard time finding inspiration is to experiment— whether that is with colors and skin tones or the way to hold a paintbrush. Huelster encourages everyone to share their artwork with as many people as possible to show it off and receive validation.
In the future, Huelster wants to continue making art and says, “I find art history to be so compelling, so I would love to work with that subject someday.”

Huelster often looks for inspiration through her parents or through social media. Some Instagram accounts she loves are: @falseknees (Joshua Barkman) and @davezackin (Dave Zackin).