Oviya Ravi Week 1; The Eyes of Medusa

I have been going to art classes consistently since I was six years old. I have to admit that I was pretty bad when I first started but regardless, those classes became the highlight of my week. Once I started high school, I could feel myself improving and I started to truly enjoy looking at the pieces I was making. 

About one year ago, I started a color pencil sketch of a statue of Medusa sitting in some kind of lake—a pretty ambitious goal for someone who could count the number of times she had sketched a person’s face on one hand. The first part I drew were the eyes; the day I finished them, I looked down at my paper and I realized I had never been more proud of something I had drawn. That gave me a good amount of confidence so I kept going, and to be completely honest, I thought it looked really good. I finished the face and began working on the hair. It was at this point that Sophomore year began taking me out. 


I started skipping my art classes to focus on school so my progress began to slow. I would go to the studio once a month, making minimal progress each time. Every Wednesday I would tell myself, and my mom, that I would go to class but that rarely happened and eventually, I stopped going all together. I never finished that drawing of Medusa and for that reason only, I keep “Art Class” in my Google Calendar. One of these days I am going to prioritize art again and finish that piece that I still look at as my best work, despite it being unfinished. 


Art is something I truly enjoy doing and it lets me express my creativity in a way that I never can with other activities. I owe it to my six-year-old self to continue this passion that has made up such a huge part of who I am for the majority of my life.

Comments

  1. Romir SSeptember 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM

    Hi Oviya, I guess I'll start by saying I didn't know you could draw so well. I also find it sort of poetic that your drawing remains incomplete, and serves as not just a drawing but a personal reminder for you. Also, I've noticed that you use calendars often. Have you always been that way or is it something you had to work towards? Either way, I need to get more like you because you seem very organized. Furthermore, I lowkey relate to you because there was a point in my life where I had to stop going to cricket practices solely due to the amount of school work and the amount of time I didn't have. I hope you continue your drawing, and best believe I will be asking to see it.

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  2. Xuen TeySeptember 3, 2025 at 5:50 PM

    I admire your dedication to art so much Oviya! I used to go to art classes when I was younger, but I stopped after a while since I lost interest. Even though you stopped going around Sophmore year, the fact you kept on going to art classes from when you were six until then is incredible! Also, your perseverance in the face of everything and your commitment to finishing your art piece is especially impressive to me since I often struggle with my own art. Was there any particular reason you chose to draw Medusa as a statue, since she turns people into them?

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  3. Lara Reyes-TerrySeptember 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM

    Hearing you talk about your passion for art and your magnum opus (ironically) being left unfinished is really sweet. I used to go to art classes when I was maybe five, but I quit and am mostly self taught. But consistency over (I believe) a decade is incredible. Even though Medusa is unfinished, I can see all those years in your beautiful work! The blending on her skin is gorgeous and the slight texture also really adds the feeling that she is a form that can be touched! I hope you get the chance to continue working on her again soon, keep up the great work!

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  4. Acintya ShenoySeptember 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM

    Procrastination and burnout are definitely two things I can relate to, especially when they culminate in dropping hobbies. I also did art in middle school and made a lot of progress, but it ultimately didn't get anywhere (I guess I'm more of a performing arts person). No matter when you decide to complete it, your Medusa looks beautiful—her facial bone structure seems to resemble yours, too. It's often said that great artists paint themselves in their characters, so whatever you do, don't stop creating!

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