• Conflict

Suan Jeong, 2021 Cover Contest Winner

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Art is a great way to channel one’s inner self, as the endless possibilities allow anyone to express themselves.

Suan Jeong

Conflict, by 15-year-old Suan Jeong, won our 2021 Creative Outlook Cover Contest.

Jeong, a 10th grader from Ridgewood, New Jersey, drew inspiration from her own emotional journey in the creative process.

“I was very confused and lost in my life and I depicted that through portrayals of my features,” she said. “I drew different versions of my face and eyes, each of which represented a different emotion. My goal was to create something that signified conflict between opposing emotions in my life.”

Jeong has been taking art classes since she was seven years old and tends to prefer drawing in pencil. But no matter the medium she’s working in, she values the versatility of art.

“I appreciate that I can express any emotion through my art and that it can then be interpreted by the viewer in any way that they personally choose,” she said. “I also enjoy looking at art created by others, as it allows me to view the world in perspectives that I would have never had on my own.”

For Jeong, art has been a helpful tool for processing and navigating life change and transitions. And she encourages others to try their hand at art, even if they don’t feel like they have certain skills mastered.

“Art is a great way to channel one’s inner self, as the endless possibilities allow anyone to express themselves,” she said. “It’s also important to keep in mind that good art doesn’t necessarily require good technique, and that improvement comes with practice.”

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Alexia Lang holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Lang has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and blogs, producing award-winning content centered around community and the arts.

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