Published: April 08, 2007 08:43 pm      

Aspiring artist dreams of making it big

With a pencil in her hand and a dream in her heart, Stephanie Kenney is an artist with the aspiration of making it big like her role model, Walt Disney.

“I love Walt Disney,” Kenney said. “I want to open my own business like he did.”

Although she works independently, she wants to start her own broadcasting company called Aaron’s Cartoons, which would be named after her son.

“It would be very interesting to be at a desk drawing,” she said. “To me, it’s fun and the money is also good.”

Not only does she draw cartoons, but she makes up stories for them as well. She said she is a versatile artist showing pictures ranging from cartoon snakes and bees to more detailed drawings of her kids. Yet, animation is what she wants to go into.

“I like the idea that you can draw your character the way you want it, no matter how goofy or funny it looks,” she said.

She explained how it takes 75 pictures to make six minutes’ worth of animation. She showed one of her own animations depicting a snake pushing a button to get on an elevator.

“You have to imagine yourself as the drawing to see how it would work when they are doing the action,” Kenney explained.

At age 8, she was inspired by her mother and would watch her draw.

“I saw my mom drawing and learned how to draw,” she said. “I never went to school for it.”

Every Christmas, she said, her mother would draw things on the windows which she said she thought was fun.

“She would draw Disney characters, and they were carrying gifts to us,” she reminisced.

Religion and extreme faith has played an important role in her life as well.

“I’ve told people that when God gives you a gift, don’t waste it,” she said. “I believe that you can do anything through Jesus if you put your heart and faith in it.”

Drawing, to her, is not only a way to concentrate but also a way to unwind.

“It’s a way to relieve stress,” she said. “It’s something I can get into and relax.”

Although drawing can be relaxing, Kenney said certain things can present a problem.

“Sometimes you can get like a writer’s block only with drawing,” she said.

Another thing Kenney mentioned is sometimes people can take an idea and present it as their own. This is why she said that she believes that having copyrights is important.

“I think that getting copyrights for my drawings are important,” she said. “That way, it’s safe from people taking your ideas.”

Although she wants to get into animation, she said she is aware of the work that will be involved.

“If you really want it, you have to work for it,” she said. “It’s not something that will just present itself.”

While she follows her dreams, she said people should try to make their own dreams come true, no matter what other people may say.

“If it’s your heart’s desire, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it,” she said. “If you want something bad, go after it.”