From her periodic moves between the United States and South Korea, Elle Ok has gained a deeper understanding of her connection to art. Ok was born in America but moved to South Korea at an early age. Ok and her family have been moving back and forth between countries.
Ever since she was a child, Ok has been in love with art. Her first art lesson took place when she was five to six years old, in a group class for children in Korea.
“My parents originally signed up my older sister, and I just tagged along. Since I was younger, I depended on her a lot, and I basically copied everything she did because I admired her skills,” Ok said.
In Korea, Ok would train at a hagwon to develop her art skills. Hagwons are intensive, after-school programs that focus on academic achievement, a strict curriculum, and portfolio building. In addition to art, they offer instruction in the core subjects, including English, math, science, and language arts.
“Hagwon culture is very competitive. Normally, students usually take classes that are 4-5 hours long, 2–3 times a week,” Ok said
Studying at a Hagwon from an early age allowed Ok to develop faster than most would at her age. Her gift for art continued to grow between moving between America and South Korea every few years.
While they were settling into New Orleans, her community began to recognize her and her sister’s artistic talent. Subsequently, they joined a special class at their school, Encore Academy.
“As we grew, our artistic strengths naturally separated. I eventually surpassed my sister in art, while she found her true talent in the violin. Even though she had a head start in art, we simply found our own distinct paths,” Ok said.
Looking back on her experiences in art in Korea, she began to see differences in the styles.
“In Korea, because so many students attend hagwon and train hard, the overall skill level is high… The American mindset is often “everything is art” …I feel like skill and technique should matter too — not just the story behind it,” Ok said.
When Ok moved to Nebraska, she continued to progress as an artist. Over the course of her time at MN, her mentor, Art Teacher Tony Brisbois, has seen her talent in action.
“She has advanced technique knowledge—she knows how to paint and understands whatever drawing medium she is working with. Her ability to render and show dimension is beyond what most kids have learned up to this point,” Brisbois said.
Ok has made some amazing projects at MN, many of which are on display outside the art classrooms.
“I usually go back to traditional, fundamental techniques (Korean college prep style)… My style is detailed but fast, and I love using bright, vibrant colors,” Ok said.
She also has a unique process when it comes to her work on her art projects.
“I love working on the details, so I skip straight to them instead of building base layers first… I don’t enjoy long planning or sketching, but I do make detailed sketches once I settle on an idea,” Ok said.
Her talent has also been recognized by her peers during her time at Millard North. Senior Dania Baiz, a friend of Ok, shows admiration for Ok’s art.
“It is very beautiful and eye-catching. It’s the kind of media that makes you want to stop and just stare at it,” Baiz said.
During her experiences working in the different environments of South Korea and the US, Ok has truly grown as an artist.
“She was the complete package the moment she walked in. People like that don’t just happen; it isn’t regular, and it isn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination,” Brisbois said.