Artist draws on her passion
Halley Snow Art Outreach Gallery
Halley Snow's featured exhibit at Eastwood Mall's Art Outreach Gallery.
Canfield teen’s work on display in Niles
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
NILES — For artist Halley Snow, passion has always been in the pencil ... or the pen, paintbrush, charcoal or even camera.
Snow, 18, of Canfield, has made creative brushstrokes and pencil sketches a way of life. That artistic life is now on display through Sunday at an art show at the Art Outreach Gallery in Eastwood Mall.
Three walls in the art gallery are lined with about three dozen of Snow’s personal art creations. The work includes everything from pencil sketches and paintings to work in oils and acrylics. Snow also displays artwork in mixed media, a combination of various pencil, paint and oil work.
“I love drawing with pencils and doing oil paintings. Oil paint is a lot more durable than any other medium, but I have just grown used to drawing with a pencil, and it has become my favorite,” she said.
Some of Snow’s favorite pieces lined the walls during the art display, including a comparatively small pencil sketching of singer Janis Joplin and another pencil sketching of journalist and author Hunter Thompson wearing sunglasses and a summer hat.
Snow usually sells paintings for $50 to $200 each and pencil drawings for about $40. Some pieces, such as the Hunter Thompson drawing, are too precious for her to see leave her collection.
“I want to sell for a good price rather than overprice where people are reluctant, but I can’t get rid of it,” she said, looking at the Thompson drawing hanging from the wall. “People have asked to buy it, and I will make copies, but I can’t part with this exact one.”
Snow started drawing at a very early age and since that time has not put down the utensils that help perfect her craft. She said it started with an inner desire that was fostered by other artists.
“I started drawing when I was very little. When I was in second grade, my friend asked if I wanted to take art lessons. My mom talked to his mom, and after that, I joined Music Lessons for Us All taking art lessons,” she said.
Snow is still enrolled as a private student at Music Lessons for Us All in Poland under the instruction of Kathy Young. She is also a student at Youngstown State University and plans to earn a master’s degree in fine art.
Snow said she is not sure where her art will take her, but she has the years of college ahead to figure that out. Snow said she would not mind teaching art someday but added she is making money as a freelance artist and would also like to make freelance work a full-time job.
Snow attended the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center for Interactive Multimedia and recently graduated from South Range High School. During her high school years, Snow spent most of her time completing freelance projects for individuals and businesses.
Snow has had much success in the Mahoning County Art Show, including receiving the Purchase Award for 2008, and has received numerous silver and gold keys in the Annual Scholastic Art Show.
Snow encourages young artists to work toward their goals. She said she was not a great artist initially, but with time and work, she has been able to perfect her craft.
jgoodwin@vindy.com