What inspires Skyline artists’ creativity and how does it shape their style? In this story, we delve into the minds of some of Skyline’s brilliant minds and their creations.
Lumi Mott (‘26) does a lot of work with clay and has taken a ceramics class every year since starting high school. “I think just life, being able to make things is inspiration in itself. I don’t think anyone in particular inspires me.”
Mott uses his art as a form of self expression and recently got an award for his “baby head vase” from the Michigan annual Scholastics Art and Writing Competition. When asked how he wants his art to impact others, he said “ I want people to be freaked out by my stuff in a real way.”
Similarly, Chiara Ciricola (‘27), who practices multiple different types of mediums, such as digital art, traditional art, and photography, also takes inspiration from life. Her art depicts ordinary everyday struggles and the restlessness of existence. “As someone navigating daily life myself, I can certainly relate to that feeling of constant exhaustion. Or maybe it’s just the monotony of my routine, Each day is a carbon copy of the last. Where’s the surprise? Where’s the adventure? So I guess I try to capture that feeling into the eyes of my art.”
She is also well versed in forms of art that are inspired by what’s happening in the world and what interests her in the media. “I dabble in pop culture and current events, so sometimes that can inspire my art,” Ciricola says. “Also, sometimes I just draw cute stuff, I am very experienced in the genre of cute art. Very.”
Skyline ceramics and art teacher, Candace Ottaviano, is skilled on the wheel. She lets the materials guide her to make a lot of her art and takes a lot of inspiration from her students’ work and historic techniques. “A lot of the time I feel like I can say that my art is what you guys create,“ she says,” But on a personal note, I try to pay respect to, you know, ancestral art in a lot of ways, like, where the process started and where it came from and things like that.”
Ottaviano is also mostly self taught, taking the reins on assignments from when she took classes and making them her own. She’s always wanted to be an artist and has worked hard towards this goal, using it as a form of expression. “I like it being connected to joy and memory and happiness. So if I can bring that as a gift to somebody’s life, that’s that’s a gift right there.”
Lee Jackson (‘26) is a digital artist. They take a lot of their inspiration from media they consumed when they were growing up, ranging from animated films to the artists on social platforms they like. Some of these artists include @chenalii, @karanharaagent, and @staryuu_ on instagram. “A lot of Studio Ghibli movies and other gorgeous animated films like ‘Song of the Sea’ really influenced what I wanted to draw. Today media still is a big influence on my art, mostly whatever grabs my attention on Pinterest for me to study and try to incorporate into my own pieces, as well as different creators I’ve found over the years.”
Jackson takes the time to practice their art, using reference pictures and rendering to go over what they want in each piece. They got more focused on art in 5th or 6th grade. Since then, it has become something they simply enjoy doing. They have also spent time making and creating an art style. “It’s more of a combination of art styles I’ve gravitated towards over the years and tried to make into something of my own.”
