Artist Profile: Noah Burgan

Throughout the halls of Grandview, many different hobbies and interests are represented from sports to dance, but none are quite as unique as art, and the artists behind them.

Sophomore Noah Burgan, a self-taught artist, is one of these unique individuals, with equally eye-catching pieces.

She experiments with many different mediums but has three core ones.

“I have three. I like drawing. I like sewing, and then I like painting,” Burgan said.  “Probably my top two are sewing and drawing. Those are my favorite.”

While Burgan may consistently stick to three methods, she describes her art style as much looser.

“I don’t really technically have a style,” Burgan said. “I just like drawing humans.”

Burgan also draws inspiration for her work from multiple places, both past and present. 

“I mainly get my inspiration from Renaissance or oil paintings. Artists like Vincent Van Gogh,” Burgan said. “[Also], anime recently. And just any queer artist. I love everyone.”

In terms of color palette, Burgan prefers pastel colors, with the addition of golds and browns. 

Burgan has also used her art to pursue finding herself, including feeling secure in her gender. 

“I think I mainly draw women, just because it allows me to see a representation, in some way,” Burgan said. “ When I look at it, I can be like ‘that person is like me, she had my body, she has my mind.’”

Art also acts as a calming mechanism for Burgan, which helps to further motivate her to create.

“I think I am just very emotional, and therapy is expensive,”  Burgan said. “Art can sometimes be a bit cheaper, so it kinda creates like a time capsule so I can remember how I felt in that moment.”

Art has also allowed for Bugan to have an emotional outlet, and act as a destresser. 

“I think it is very [therapeutic], in some weird ways,” Burgan said. “It gives me an opportunity to express myself, or bring meaning to something.”

When creating, Burgan also keeps a positive, growth mindset when it comes to improving artistically. 

“Every piece that I make I get more skills, or more knowledge from it,” Burgan said. “I just improved my technique, from doing this a couple times.”

She also has high hopes for her future in the art world, including shifting more towards the fashion aspect of the industry.

“I totally want to go to New York and become a fashion designer,” Burgan said. “My hope is to go to fashion school and pursue that part, and continue doing art.”

When it comes to a specific fashion school, Burgan has big-city dreams for the future. 

“[For school], anywhere in New York,” Burgan said. “I am possibly looking at Paris [too].” 

When creating, Burgan also keeps a positive, growth mindset when it comes to improving artistically. 

“Every piece that I make I get more skills, or more knowledge from it,”  Burgan said. “I just improved my technique, from doing this a couple times.”

As Burgan continues to improve her art in the present, the stars will continue to align for her, as her future is just as bright as the current day. 

“[I want to be] sewing up a storm. Making outfits, and drawing, and having four pet chickens, and a couple pet rats.”