Bayside teen has solo art exhibit

At only 13 years old, Bayside resident Clara Lu will kick off her first solo art exhibition with an opening reception on Saturday, November 10.
When Lu, a student at Middle School 158, was about six years old, she started learning about art in school and soon developed a serious interest for it. She said that by the time she was eight, she was looking for an art school to take more classes and enrolled in one when she was 10. She still takes art classes outside of her regular schooling.
“It gives you kind of a freedom to express yourself,” Lu said about creating artwork. She also said that it enables her to let go whether she is feeling stressed, mad, sad or any other way.
Lu predominately does sketches but also creates oil paintings. Her works are of many different things, including landscapes, still-life and portraits. She said that she paints during the week whenever she can fit it in.
Following the suggestion of a teacher, Lu got involved with having her own exhibition, which will be at the Red Yellow & Blue Art Center. It will feature between 25 and 30 of her pieces. Lu, who has been recognized in several art contests, said that she selected them based on recommendations from her teachers.
Lu’s mother, Tina Yuan, said that the exhibition will be a good chance for her daughter to get some constructive criticism about her work so that she can further improve it.
“I think it’s really cool,” Lu said about having her own solo exhibit.
Lu hopes to attend an arts high school and is leaning towards Frank Sinatra High School of the Arts. Along with studying art, she wants to major in finance.
As far as her art goes, Lu said that she would like to try abstract at some point. Having done it once before, Lu also wants to possibly to do more stippling, where a picture is created using dots.
Lu’s first solo exhibition will begin with an opening reception on Saturday, November 10 at the Red Yellow & Blue Art Center, which is located at 39-06 Main Street in Flushing. It will be on display for two weeks. To R.S.V.P., call 718-619-8416.