My first comprehendible pieces of art were cards. Birthday cards to my parent's anniversary cards, I was the construction paper queen. Instead of the typical Crayola crayon doodles, I liked to create pictures and words with numerous colors and layers of paper, haphazardly glued on more paper. Throughout my construction paper journey, I advanced from two-dimensional cards held together by staples, to pop-up cards stitched together on the binding. For me, what I put into my cards, relayed how much whom they were going to meant to me.

As a young girl, I was using my art to express my feelings.

Time passed, and the work I created began to evolve. The construction paper turned into Washi paper and cards turned into origami. My first origami book was a Christmas present from my parents and it sparked my ever-continuing admiration for origami. With detailed instructions and specific paper provided for each piece, I spent hours a day folding. Creating creatures and objects from a single square piece of paper absolutely blew my mind. I was fascinated that something so simple could become something so delicate and intricate.

From origami, I took into the trend of 2010 and put away the Washi for duct tape. Even though two very different media, I was able to translate the techniques and craft I learned from origami to tape. Duct tape flower pens, to woven duct tape bags and wallets to match, I instantly fell in love with the unique process of taking such a practical tool and making pieces of art. My art went from solely expressing my feelings for people, to a passion I continue to have to this day.

As a college student and true artist in the making, I crave to explore what this world has to offer me. I never would have imagined how far my creative processes have taken me. Once a connoisseur of construction paper, I am now manipulating metal through the heat of the forge. From folding paper cranes out of paper to plasma cutting one out of a sheet of steel. My desire to create and express myself through art has only intensified as I've grown and become more experienced. Every day continues to show me new ways to look at and understand the things around me and how to give that understanding life through art.

Arianna Levenson