The sun has long since set, and a feeling of peacefulness has washed over the world. While it may seem as though everything is asleep, a lone light shines out of a window. Inside that room sits senior Daniella Thach, hunched over her dining room table. The outside world provides a sharp contrast between the serenity of the outdoors and the music blasting out of her speakers. As her artwork is draped on the table and hung on the wall, she expertly glides her hand across her work, making definite, precise strokes. The pencil and eraser shavings do little to distract her from creating her newest work. To many, this scene may seem chaotic and disorganized, but not to Thach. To her, she is in her element.
For as long as she can remember, Thach has had a pencil in hand and was constantly drawing. From what started as “potato headed” people has blossomed into stunning pieces of artwork that grace the halls of Niles West. Thach often draws inspiration from music and other art.
“An idea can hit me anywhere. I can get inspiration from the most mundane Pinterest board, but I definitely think looking at other people’s work and music is a huge inspiration,” Thach said.
Earlier this year, Thach drew two life-sized portraits of the band members from Twenty-One Pilots. Not only did this get her a full tuition scholarship to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) pre-college program, but she was also able to share her experience with some of the crew members from Twenty-One Pilots, and is now on their “My Emotional Roadshow” documentary.
In MCAD’s three week summer program, Thach, along with 50 other artists from around the world, was able to go to a college campus and experience what life is like for a college student studying art.
“It [MCAD’s program] changed my life because it took me out of a high school environment and into a real college artist’s environment. It was awesome to not only know your standpoint in the world of art, but to know other people’s as well,” Thach said.
Best friend and fellow artist, senior Angela Christodoulou, said that she admires how Thach can be herself without worrying about others’ personal opinions.
“She does her own thing, and whoever likes it, likes it. She doesn’t care about what others think, she just does her own thing,” Christodoulou said.
Many of Thach’s friends would not only describe her as being extremely talented, but as being a genuinely kind person.
“Daniella is one of the most kind, selfless people I had the pleasure to meet — with every step she takes, I believe she is determined to change the world. She is powerful, and has a heart of gold,” senior Cosette Nowik said.
Like many people, Thach loves art because it allows her to meet or communicate with other people without actually meeting them, or even speaking.
“What I love about art is that it’s so different. You can do anything with art. It is also a great way to meet other people and share interests with others without really meeting or talking to them. You can get to know them just by looking at their work,” Thach said.
For Thach, art isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle and a passion.
