A! Magazine for the Arts

Sophia Combs

Sophia Combs

Arts for Youth Spotlight: Art is a big part of Sophia Combs' life

July 28, 2020

Sophia Combs became passionate about art about the same time she learned how to hold a pencil. Luckily, her grandmother, Pauline Combs, who is also an artist was on hand to encourage and teach her.

“I have been influenced by many people like my art teachers, local artists and famous artists, but I would say that my biggest influence is my grandmother. She is an artist and one of the main reasons that I became interested in art. She has always encouraged me to be artistic, and I’ve always looked up to her,” Sophia says.

Sophia exhibited her artwork at The Arts Depot in July in the Members Gallery. Karen Moore, arts administrator of The Arts Depot says, “The Arts Depot is fortunate to have such a skilled young artist exhibiting in our Members Gallery, and we look forward to seeing what she creates in the future.”

Sophia’s work in her show reflects her recent interest —painting people, nature and landscapes.

“I love that there are so many different art styles. The way I’ve been approaching art recently is kind of random. I’ll come up with an idea out of the blue and just go with that. I find that it’s much harder for me to plan out exactly what I’m going to do than to just let it fall into place as I go.

“I like to experiment with different mediums. Recently I have been into working with oil and acrylic paint. The medium I choose also just depends on what mood I’m in, and how I want my art to be portrayed.

“To me, art is a way to express myself without having to say anything. I like that whether I’m putting tons of effort into a piece for an exhibit, or I’m drawing in my sketchbook just for fun, I always enjoy it,” she says.

Sophia is 15 and attends Abingdon High School. She isn’t sure what she wants to study when she graduates, but she does plan to attend college. “I do know that even if I don’t pursue a career in art, it will always be a part of my life,” she says.

Her parents are Brian Combs (father), Jenny Combs (stepmother), Elena White (mother) and Josh White (stepfather).

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