Reading the email from her art teacher, freshman Aimee Yun hoped to see her name on the list before her. She had spent much of her summer devoted to this contest honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and she hoped to prove that her hard work had paid off by being among the top students in the contest. She entered this contest each year during middle school, but she never won first place.

She scanned the email, her eyes looking over the few names that place in the top ranks. Aimee stayed hopeful as she read the list. After reading the first place spot, Aimee realized. Not only did she make the list—she won.
• • •
Art has always been an influence in Aimee’s household. Her mother, Jin Yun, enrolled in many oil painting classes in college and took an interest in design. As she watches her daughter develop in her art skills, Jin encourages Aimee to follow her own path.

Even when Aimee was younger, her mother noticed the drive that her daughter has compared to other artists. Aimee would draw in her sketchbook while her mom would watch her create her art. Jin knows that whatever Aimee decides to do in her future, she’ll continue to encourage her.

“I support Aimee with her own dreams because I believe it is important to be passionate [about] your future,” Jin said. “Since Aimee has been dreaming of doing art for her future, I’ve supported her ever since.”

Her mom did her best to help Aimee develop her art skills at a young age. When she was around 4, her mom enrolled her in the Dallas Art Studio.

Aimee stayed in this art school throughout middle school and it helped her realize what she wanted in her art.

“I really liked it because they helped you with your skill and techniques.” Aimee said. “But personally they would tell me what to do for competitions and if I didn’t really like the idea, they would still make me do it, so I decided to move to a different art school.”
When Aimee was five years old, she was celebrating her brother’s first birthday party with her family. When it came time for the group picture, Aimee’s mother could not find her daughter.

She was terrified as she searched everywhere. Just as she was starting to panic, she found Aimee sitting in the corner drawing on her notepad.
“Ever since she was little, she has always loved drawing and doing art,” Jin said. “Even now, I’m so thankful that she still is working hard without giving up. I think that mature artists are those who work for their goal with passion.”
Rather than having to follow guidelines for her artwork, Aimee wanted to be more imaginative. After changing in eighth grade to Top Art Studio, Aimee enjoyed their process of focusing more on creative style rather than sticking to technique.
Aimee has also worked on her art in middle and high school classes. She has developed her technique by practicing everything from drawing to her favorite medium, oil paintings. Lamar Middle School art teacher Nancy Lawrence noticed the perspective Aimee has on the pieces she takes on.
“She just sees things in an artistic way,” Lawrence said. “She doesn’t see things flat, she sees everything very dimensional.”
Like most students, Aimee does her best to develop her skills. She attributes some of that learning process to Lawrence who guided her for her three years in middle school.

“I think that artists are supposed to do what they want to do and not be forced to do anything,” Aimee said. “Mrs. Lawrence didn’t force us to do anything, she would give us a theme of what to do and she’d help us express it in our own ways.”
Aimee has received other honors in years past for her art. She was also awarded Lawrence’s all-year award each year in middle school for her dedication to her art. Aimee entered in two juniorand one high school VASE, Visual Arts Scholastic Event, competition and placed high each year.
“I got a score of four, which is the highest,” Aimee said. “But unfortunately I did not make it to state which is okay, I can try again.”
For each of her VASE entries, Aimee tries to do an emotional piece so she can describe the deeper meanings of her paintings to the judges. She plans on continuing with her art past high school and using it possibly in a future career.
“I’m trying to major in art when I’m in college but I’m not sure yet what specific area I want to go into,” Aimee said.
Just as art had become an outlet for herself, Aimee encourages people to use art to express themselves.
“You sh
ould do art to create a story or if you have any emotion,” Aimee said. “You should put it all into the canvas.