Leyla Craven


Hi, my name is Leyla Craven, I'm 18 and a senior and am taking AP Art after 3 years in ArtQuest VFA with Ms. Delello. I've loved being in ArtQuest since I began Beginning VFA in freshman year. Making art has been a consistent coping tool for me dealing with a very turbulent and emotional high school experience. My S.I. and the way I approached all of my pieces is very personal and cathartic. I used many materials I had on hand during quarantine but favored gouache, marker pens, and acrylic.


My Sustained Investigation question is "How does society wrong teenage girls to the point of them becoming mentally unwell, and how do these girls’ perceptions of the world change as a result?". Growing up a teenage girl in the 21st century has led both me and my friends and countless teenage girls across the world to very difficult and exploitative situations and severely affected our fragile, growing minds. Some of the topics I covered in my pieces include suicide and self harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, and the overall loneliness and skewed reality brought about by mental health struggles. I wanted to give my story as well as the stories of others I know the platform they deserved. I don't intend to romanticize these topics but rather bring awareness by showing perspective through my art.


｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

"Strawberry Season"

Gouache and paint pen on paper 6" x 8"

"Self Harmageddon"

Gouache, acrylic, and pen on paper

8" x 11"

"Again?"

Perspective Project

Gouache, colored pencil, ballpoint pen, and oil pastel on paper 8" x 12"

"Maladaptive"

Paint pens on paper

6" x 6"

"Godhood is just like Girlhood"

Word & Image project

Collage, gouache, and marker on cardboard

24" x 24"

"Eat Up"

gouache, acrylic, and colored pencil on paper

8" x 8"

"Felix"

Gouache and collaged drawings with colored pencils and pen. 9 x 12

Thank you so much for looking at some of my portfolio, I really appreciate the opportunity to share my work with you all here (´• ω •`) ♡

If you would like to keep up with me and my future art (and see some old stuff even!) follow me on instagram @girldelusion. I may be selling prints or original works there in the future.

"Rituals"

Still life using objects in my bathroom, I took my own reference photos

Gouache on cardboard 18" x 24"

"She Sees the Saddest Things"

Acrylic on wood

18" x 14"

ArtQuest Superstar! ☆

Collage (scrapbook paper) and gouache, paint pens, and colored pencil

12" x 10"