Where the Art Is: Lani Brew

by Maryann Colella

“Whenever I draw I am able to get my emotions out on paper. I can take what I feel and just draw it, and that helps a lot,” says this month’s featured artist junior Lani Brew. Lani is set apart from many other artists her age in that she is self-taught. “I took art in eighth grade, but I didn’t like it, so I just taught myself on my own time,” she says. In addition to her acclaimed Anime drawings, Lani does computer graphics and even has her own web page where some of her art is displayed. “I learned a little bit of computer graphics from SCROC and then I took what I learned there and applied it.”

Lani says that her biggest inspirations for her art work are her younger brother, Garrett, and her grandpa whom she has never met. Garrett started drawing his own monsters which inspired Lani to really start drawing, and although she has never met her grandfather, she has seen his paintings and heard stories from her mother and grandmother.

The one Anime artist that she really looks up to is Don Nelson who lives in Massachusetts. “I admire his work because his style is so unique; he adds a touch of realism to his characters instead of just the typical big-eyed anime characters.”

But Anime is not just a hobby for Lani. After graduation, she hopes to attend University of Massachusetts Amherst because they have a great art program. Eventually, she wants to start her own comic business with her friends so they could write, draw, create, produce, and sell comics.

For now Lani’s artwork can be found at http://xkimikox.deviantart.com and if you would just like to meet Lani, she can be found at Sci-Fi and Fantasy Club in Mr. Wood’s room on Tuesdays. Don’t be bashful, because she is an all-round friendly and creative person.