Washington is home to many young artists, ranging from singers and sculptors, to dancers and painters. One visual artist who has caught the attention of many is Marleen Anspach. Anspach’s interest in art and drawing began when she was very young, and she has loved the practice ever since. Being self-taught, she has learned many complicated styles and successfully implemented them in her beautiful works over the years.
Art can mean different things to everyone. Since art and creativity are substantial factors of Anspach’s life, she uses this as an outlet and a way to have fun. To her, “art means escaping reality and relaxing.” She says, “I can express my thoughts and emotions through drawing. [It] makes me feel good and helps get my mind off of things.” Outside of art, Anspach enjoys playing tennis with friends. As a combination of physical, mental, and tactical skills, tennis helps Anspach with her concentration and patience. A healthy balance of art and tennis has allowed Anspach to express herself outside of school and learn from experiences that will help her mature artistically and personally.
Anspach maintains a very diverse style and does not consider herself to have a specialty. A lot of the artwork Anspach creates are portraits using pencil or marker. She has also incorporated her stance on sustainability, prioritizing the protection of the planet over immoral profit. The piece pictured above shows a fractured planet, with a cruel businessman’s hand withdrawing money on one side, and an advocate offering an insufficient bandage on the other side.
Anspach would like to continue art after high school. She says, “I want to major in communications design and I think having made art for so long will help me [master those classes] and succeed as a designer!” A communications design degree will open up so many possibilities, including graphic design, advertising, and data visualization.
For beginning artists, she has some encouraging advice: “Go with the flow and practice makes perfect.” She says, “Your first few pieces don’t have to look perfect, and it’s okay if you don’t like what you created. It’s important to never stop trying; you’ll get there! It’s also okay if you haven’t found your art style, just don’t stress about it!”
Anspach’s motivation and passion for the arts is what makes her work exceptional. She has taken the time to learn and cultivate her skills, and has become an experienced artist with much untapped potential. We can expect to see much more from Marleen.
Emma Warren is a senior at Washington High School. This is their second and final year at the Hatchet. They serve as the web developer and the Arts & Entertainment editor. Emma loves working on the Hatchet and writing stories for all kinds of people, whether it be the fall play review or a portfolio of an artist. In her free time, they enjoy writing and indulging in the simplicity of life by watching The Office.