Local artist is drawing attention

In every city around the world, art is a prime culture surrounding the population. From graffiti decorating the streets to pictures hanging in galleries, it is all around. But art isn’t just found in cities, sometimes it can be found in a small town too.

Laken Prisecaru, a 13-year-old artist from Chrisman has a knack for bringing reality to any blank paper she looks at.

While for most, talent is a slow and growing process, Laken seems to be born with a natural talent for drawing.

“I’ve been trying to do realism for a couple of years, but I’ve been drawing half my life,” she said.

Like most children in school, she had an art class that brought her talent to light, but in a small town, it was hard to find many specific advanced subjects. Without a real guide to help hone her talent, she went to YouTube for help.

YouTube is a social media platform for everyone and anyone. A lot of people make content teaching viewers how to harness a specific skill. Laken, in her free time, prefers to sit on the floor, with a blank canvas and learn from the artists of YouTube.

With few opportunities through school, she started out by drawing local farmers for fun. Later on, more and more people came to her for portraits.

Renee Prisecaru, Laken’s mother, says her daughter started out drawing farmers at the restaurant in Hume, and “She gave one (portrait drawing) for a birthday present of him ( a farmer ), then another farmer wanted another one, so she kind of went off that.”

Eventually, Laken started entering art competitions and galleries. While her age says she should be entering into the youth division, her skills make her worthy to enter amongst the adults.

Several of her art pieces have won awards at art fairs and art galleries. With this achievement, her name and products have started to get out in the world. Many people have asked Laken about buying her art after seeing it on Facebook, Tik Tok or at art fairs and galleries

She has sold several of her art pieces, but holds a few dear to her heart. Multiple people have asked to buy Laken’s detailed drawing of a cowboy “Jesse,” but the only way to get an exact replica would be to print from the original piece. The mother and daughter duo have yet to find a  strong enough printing, one that would keep all the original detailed artistic markings, but they are still on the hunt for one.

With how talented her daughter is, Renee is trying to help guide Laken to a future where she can work with her gift.

“Me as a parent, I don’t know what to do with her,” Renee explained. “I feel like she should be in college … she should be taking college classes.”

Renee has looked around for local colleges that offer summer programs, but, unfortunately, the only one  she has found locally is the University of Chicago.

“We just can’t get her up there every day or have her stay there for the summer,”she said.

To grow her gift Laken is open to drawing any portraits or pictures that are brought to her. For those who are inquiring about Laken’s talent,or have any questions, they can reach Renee at rstclr1@yahoo.com.