Seventeen-year-old senior Miguel Antonio-Pena hindsight has been “sketching” since he was two-years old. According to his parents, one of his older sisters is first who encouraged him to pick up the crayon. What initially seemed like a normal toddler task of coloring and drawing has led to a remarkable talent of drawing that will likely always be part of who Miguel is and what he pursues in life.
“When I was about 8, I discovered online animators, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be an animator.”
Art is a way that Miguel expresses himself. He often creates a cartoon-style persona in his sketches to capture his emotions.
“It’s not super realistic or that detailed. It’s more cartoony,” he explained. “But I’d like to branch out into drawing human anatomy, superheroes, and more realistic characters.”
When he’s not sketching, Miguel keeps busy with other school activities. He plays in the mariachi band and orchestra, is a member of National Honor Society, and spent several years in the Chinese foreign language program and finished Chinese Four as a junior. He has participated in peer mentoring in the past during Muskie Times, a program here at MHS that helps younger students with academics.
This year, Miguel is new to the newspaper crew where his creative side will be showcased through his illustrations and designs to accompany stories.
“I like that this newspaper gives me the chance to create art for others, not just myself,” Miguel said.
To figure out his role within the newspaper, he practiced by reworking a thumbnail for a popular story last year by Staff Member, Maya Simpson, Five things that Muscatine needs. He was tasked with reading the story and understanding its contents and purpose, then creating something original that encapsulates the story.
Miguel and the staff members envision that this may be a main way that he creatively contributes to our mission.
Over time and as he becomes more comfortable, Miguel might expand his creativity by publishing original comic-like stories. As well as representing an entire newspaper story through comic panels written and designed in tandem with another staff member. In this approach, the more traditional staff member does the research, interviews, and compiles the information, shares it with Miguel and then Miguel outlines the story through art for publication (think of it as a graphic novel of a newspaper story).
Through this practice, you can see some of his recognizable caricature and style to his work. Specifically in this sketch his main subject in the thumbnail is actually Miguel’s representation of himself. He notes that the oversized and curvature of the dark hair is his “thing” and what you often see his sketchbook filled with.
Like most artists, Miguel has his own style that he has honed in his sketchbooks. He preferences a smaller sketchbook because some of the larger books can feel a bit intimidating to get started. There are some sketches where Miguel adds text and multiple panels of art, and other times where it is just one sketch per page. Miguel dates his sketchbooks and they become a historical memento that tracks his progression through life, and his art skills.
Miguel is eager as the school newspaper begins to circulate this year, that his work could be something more recognizable to others and not just part of his less-public sketchbook.
“It will help me build my own little brand as an artist,” Miguel shared.
Animation is Miguel’s dream career, he’s also interested in business and graphic design. He sees himself blending his interests of sketch and branding into a future that allows him to stay creative while building practical skills.
“I like selling and promoting things,” he said. “I could see myself combining marketing with art or design.
No matter what though, creativity, art, and color will be part of that pursuit.
If Miguel were a candy, he sees himself as a jellybean.
“They’re silly, colorful, and just kind of fun. I think that fits me.”
Miguel is a welcomed addition to this year’s crew.