Velvet’s journey with Urban ArtWorks began her freshman year of high school in our Mural Apprenticeship Program (MAP). Since then, she’s continued to grow as an artist and leader through Base Crew and the Youth Advisory Council. This summer, she stepped into a new role as a Teaching Artist Assistant, as a Teaching Artist Assistant. Velvet also supported a professional Teaching Artist in mentoring younger artists and helping them bring their creative visions to life. In this youth artist spotlight, Velvet reflects on her favorite murals, the power of collaboration, and how her experiences have shaped her artistic practice and inspired her to keep exploring her own creative voice.

How did you first get involved with Urban ArtWorks?

I first participated in their Mural Apprenticeship Program (MAP) my freshman year of high school. My friend had participated the season prior and I became interested through his description of it.

What projects have you worked on in MAP, Base Crew, or the Youth Advisory Council that you’re most proud of?

I have a few favorites — My solo mural in the INSCAPE building, the Crown Hill underpass mural, and the UHeights center dance studio mural. All three are associated with Base Crew, where I do the most artistic work. My biggest struggle while initially learning to create murals was composition, and I feel that these three projects mark where I sort of began to get a grasp of things. I love when a piece can take you all the way in with its details but still zoom out to be a coherent, unified picture. And I really think that these murals do just that.

Can you share a favorite memory or moment from one of your Urban ArtWorks projects?

Getting to see the masters at work while helping out on a mural with ARTOLUTION two winters ago. It was my first time working outdoors and I was taken aback at the sheer scale of the piece. The artists spearheading the whole thing were so fast and confident with their tools, and were so good with directing people too. At the time I was super amazed and inspired. It really made me realize that there was still so much for me to learn!

What do you enjoy most about working with other youth artists on murals or creative projects?

Everyone brings a different perspective and skillset to the table. I love getting to see everyone’s specific strengths because it almost feels like a puzzle. I used to get really stressed during collaboration, but now I feel it comes pretty naturally. You get to a point in a project where you know everyone’s specific strengths and weaknesses, and you can immediately know who you need to grab when you need a certain thing done. It honestly makes things a lot easier when you have someone who can fill in all the jobs you hate doing. Also, it’s inspiring to work in such close proximity with people who approach art differently than you do, because you get to observe how they do things and incorporate it into your own personal practice.

How do your culture, background, or personal experiences show up in your art?

I love making art about things that make me feel alive or human. Personally I feel that when something I see or experience overwhelms all my senses, when seeing something awe-inspiring, or beautiful, or just super vibrant. I’ve always tried to capture that in my work – I use bright colors, moving forms, and scale to really make you feel something when you see it. My culture and heritage shows up in a quieter way – I am frequently inspired by color schemes and stylistic choices used in ancient Chinese art. When I was little I did a lot of traditional Chinese calligraphy, mainly of flora and fauna. Sometimes I incorporate the style or technique into my pieces.

What have you learned about teamwork, leadership, or your community through MAP, Base Crew, or the Youth Advisory Council?

Working with all 3 of these programs has helped me meet so many new people. Both the communities and artists that I got the chance to work with helped me sort of put a face on seattle. It’s nice to feel like I’m really contributing to the place that I live in.

How has being part of Urban ArtWorks helped you grow as an artist or as a person?

Working with this organization, I’ve learned to adapt to challenges, think outside the box, and create art that I normally wouldn’t challenge myself to make. Making murals is quite different from drawing in a sketchbook or painting on canvas, and learning the skillset and mindset required for them has improved my overall practice as well. Making sure compositions work scaled-up, working with clients, and figuring out the logistics of the painting process has changed the way I think of my personal pieces.

Why do you think public art is important, especially for young people and communities?

Public art is for everyone. There are no barriers to viewing it. Once a public art piece is installed, everyone who passes by will observe it, and in some way, be affected by it. And that makes it an amazing way to have your voice heard. I see it as sort of a bridge between the artist and the community they’re making the piece for – you are free to express yourself and create the piece in the way you want, and community members get to see their space transform in real time. Especially as a young artist, it can be so transformative to work big, and to see your art take up space, and be appreciated for it.

What has it been like stepping into the role of Teaching Assistant this summer, and what has surprised or inspired you most about helping mentor younger artists?

Surprisingly insightful! It’s interesting to be at the other end of the process after being in the student’s position for so long. Mentoring promising young artists has brought me so many surprises! Every day the apprentices brought their own set of ideas, their own creative visions, and transformed our project in directions I would have never envisioned. I love their determination, each of their unique perspectives, and their energy! I feel like I can get to know them better than a teacher typically can get to know students, because the apprenticeship is structured in a way that the students have to actively create, collaborate, and lead the project “Additionally, after a few years, I realized that leadership doesn’t always get earned or show up the same ways every time. It comes hand in hand with being a good team member. I’m often described by my peers and mentors as a “big picture person” – and in some ways that gives me some sort of leadership over the general composition of the project. But in a group like base crew there isn’t always one same leader, and you learn to lead or be led based on the situation.”

What kinds of art or creative projects are you excited to explore next?

This coming year, I want to expand my existing skillset as well as explore new ideas. If the opportunity comes I always love experimenting with solo murals as I rarely get to do them, and it gives me a chance to practice and make mistakes at my own pace. I love acrylic painting and am definitely looking forward to doing more of that. As for exploration, I want to try different mediums, techniques, and subject matters. This past year I’ve realized that the message you want to send is just important a part of your practice as your actual skills, so I’m working on finding my own unique artistic voice.