Sketching sculptural success

By Amanda Tonoli

atonoli@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

Fitch High School junior Jasmine Loyen effortlessly turns mere sketchbook drawings into nationally honored sculptures as she masters yet another form of art.

According to Fitch High School art teachers Adam Leskanic and Diane Devine, Loyen is on her way to creating an impressive portfolio.

Loyen, a Butler Youth Honors Program participant, won several Scholastic Art awards at Youngstown State University including, two Gold Key awards, two honorable mentions and the American Visions award.

The American Visions award recipient is selected by a panel that chooses five works of art from the Gold Key winners to represent their region on a national level.

In addition to winning various awards, Loyen has a pencil-drawn portrait on display in the Ohio House of Representatives Student Art Exhibition, 940 2nd St., Portsmouth.

“She has creative talent as well as exceptional technical skill in pretty much any media she has tried,” Leskanic said. “Anything she does has its own unique flair. Her artwork has its own voice.”

She is the daughter of Melissa and Thomas Loyen.

Loyen first uses a sketchbook for ideas that she carefully crafts into detailed ceramic sculptures.

“I think the best is that her pieces are all her own vision,” Devine said.

Justin Nigro, Ohio Arts Council Leadership Liaison of the Ohio House of Representatives Student Art Exhibition, said because art is interpretive, students’ pieces reflect how they interpret themselves and their surroundings.

“Much of the artwork features – literally or figuratively – their identities at a very formative point in life,” Nigro said.

Loyen said she always has tried to master all forms of art. “I try to get better, and I like the challenge of it – trying to get to the likeness of what I want it to look like,” she said.

Loyen said she wants to pursue higher education in art.

“An education that includes the arts helps to train our work force and produce creative, critical thinkers and problem-solvers that are attractive to employers,” Nigro said.

Cora Slack, Ohio House of Representatives Constituent Services Adviser, said she enjoys seeing the result of high-quality art education.

“The artistic talents of Ohio high-school students is a welcome addition to the formerly bland hallway,” Slack said.