A mess of blonde hair leans over a table. It’s messily tucked behind the ears of Senior Kyra McKinney as pens click together. She dots them on a white sheet of paper with a gentle hand. While it may seem a muddled mess, as more dots are stippled on, the shape of a wolf devouring its prey comes to life as intricate pinpricks fuse together. It’s clear that McKinney has a deep understanding of art that has been perfected from years of work. 

“I’ve been drawing basically all my life,” McKinney said. “What got me interested in animation was brilliant animators on youtube. I was like ‘Wow, I want to do that too.”

In her free time, McKinney likes to play video games or read. She finds that it helps bring inspiration to her work. 

“I get a lot of ideas from storytelling,” McKinney said. “I like to draw dramatic scenes and expressions. What also inspires me is just putting something down and seeing my mental image come to life.”

McKinney is currently working on her portfolio in AP Art to submit to the Kansas City Art Institute. In her portfolio, she wishes to conjure feelings inside the viewer.

“I want it to make people feel something from my portfolio,” McKinney said. “I want them to feel wonder, amazement, sadness. Any emotion or thought is good.”

McKinney’s favorite medium is pencil. Finding the process of sketching is her utmost favorite. Sophomore Ryan Nichols believes that her art is moving.

“Kyra’s art is typically super cute, but I feel like a lot of her art has hidden meanings which I like,“ Nichols said. “It makes you pay attention to every single detail as you try to dissect it. It’s nice to see every little thing that’s in the art piece that the artist has cared to provide.”

McKinney’s dream career is computer animation, hoping to live up to her childhood idols. Senior Zoe Schapler believes that she could achieve this. 

“Her artwork is unique,” Schapler said. “Even though it’s cartoony, she adds a lot of details. I really like it. It’s cheerful.”

The pen is sat down as McKinney selects a new one to capture the finer details of the stag’s bones. She collects a strand of blonde hair with her fingers, pulling it back behind her ear as she refines the teeth on the predator to make them sink into the prey in an array of dots. She surveys the piece, eyes searching, as she finishes off the section.