Axel Snyder
Born in Utah, raised in PA, and now NYC, a place I’ve always wanted to make my home. Ever since I was the arts were my favorite past time. I dabbled in writing, theater, music but visual arts were always my favorite.
For me the most best part of the process is all the pitfalls. Sometimes something isn’t going to work or look how you thought it would. The chaotic nature of making art is why I do it.
My Story
When I was a kid I didn't have much to do. Technology like phones and computers weren't that big of a craze yet so I had to find other ways to entertain myself with what was available. In my house that was books and paper. I would read for awhile and then when I got bored of reading I would draw and vice versa. I was fortunate enough to have near unlimited access to books and art supplies.
My parents and people around me were very encouraging, they always gave me ample praise. And as a shy self concise kid that thought way to much about their future life It set me on a track to seriously pursue art, because well if I was good as I was being told, than that talent shouldn't be wasted.
However,
then I started getting older, I had more going on, new interests, new peers who I desperately wanted to impress, more freedom to explore the world outside of my yard. Art and reading feel to the wayside. My peers and even teachers didn't see my artwork as cool or a good use of time anymore. My peers thought it was weird that I was always drawing or had my nose in a book and didn't play at recess like the other kids. And teacher's would take away my sketchbook in class or at recess and then wonder why I stopped applying myself in school.
Hoping,
it would make people would like me I drew less, read less, and played dumb about the material we learned in class. I would even pretend I hadn't done readings or intentionally write horrible essays so I would get the same grades as my peers. Which teacher's did notice so that charade didn't last long. I kept reading but art was no longer a focus. I started devoting time to things other students were into even if they weren't necessarily things I liked.
I wanted to Quit,
But, My 8th grade art teacher Mr. Kerkusz, reawakened my love of art. He would always push me to go further than I was comfortable with and at the time it made me anxious. But now looking back I am so thankful that he got me to participate more in art class and then convinced me to join art club too. I don't think I would have ended up applying to any art school's at all without him.
A few years later,
I was applying to college and again second guessing my abilities. My once really supportive family was now questioning my choice of career and pushed me towards getting a "real" degree that would financially support me. And they almost ended up getting their way. I was waitlisted for Pratt Institute and assumed I probably would not get in. So I was planning on committing to Syracuse University as a Pre-Law student with an art minor. That's when I got an email saying I had been accepted to Pratt Munson, Pratt Institute’s satellite campus in Upstate New York. I was there for two years, transferred to the main campus in Brooklyn New York, and the rest is history.
