Marley Itzel Alburez the making of a graphic novelist

I studied at the Art Students League from the Fall of 2020 to the Spring of 2021, and I really enjoyed my time there remote. This year I would like to have an in-person experience. Every time I attended class, we would explore drawing techniques or draw subjects I had never thought of before. We would try new ways of shading to bring depth to a drawing of tropical fish or do sketches of strange and unusual fantasy trees. These techniques and subjects helped strengthen my art skills and broadened the scope of things I could draw. I also found that even though the class was virtual, the environment was enjoyable, with kind teachers and driven students.

When I grow up, I would like to become a graphic novelist. This idea was inspired by my love for comic books and manga. My family always had old superhero comic collections as part of our home library and now I often go on hunts to find new manga series to read in bookstores and libraries. Both Japanese manga and American comics have inspired my love for art and telling a story through art. I am also an avid reader and writer, so I want to combine both writing and art by making graphic novels in the future.

The artist that has influenced me the most would be Hayao Miyazaki. Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, and the face and co-founder of Studio Ghibli, a film and animation studio. The magic in the plot and animation of Studio Ghibli movies had inspired me ever since I went to see “Ponyo” when I was four years old. Watching studio Ghibli movies has shown me how art and story can be married to create a life-changing experience for the viewer.