Livia Smolizza

Who is Liv?

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring"
-Marilyn Monroe

Who am I? I am Livia Smolizza, a highly motivated fourteen-year-old-girl, from, Long Island, New York. I have true passions in my life. Fashion exhilarates me, painting inspires me, reading enhances me, and community service fulfills me. This is why Marilyn Monroe's words have become my mantra.

Taking courses at Parsons, The New School of Design in painting, drawing, fashion design and illustration have helped me to see inspiration in unexpected places. One place I find inspiration is in classic movies like Some Like It Hot and Sabrina. These black and white movies are in stark contrast to the high definition, 3-D films of today. In my mind when I watch these black and white movies, I see a blank canvas with an opportunity to use bold colors to bring it alive. This is how I envision my own future. I will take the ordinary and make it colorful.

Painting is one of my passions. I love painting landscapes and have just begun painting figures in my work. After taking a photography class at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I used my photos as my inspiration for my artwork. I applied the techniques of great artists such as Monet and Van Gogh. My Van Gogh rendition of "An Almond Branch in A Glass" was selected last fall to be included as part of the Manhasset Public Library Art Gallery exhibit "Flowers".

When I am not painting I love to get lost in a book for hours. While my friends may be inclined to go to the movies, I'd rather find my entertainment in books. Books captivate me and bring me into worlds where the stories consume me. Some books such as Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia enhance my imagination. I often like to think about how characters from different books would interact. Macon Ravenwood might actually be a great friend to, the recluse, Boo Radley from, To Kill A Mockingbird. While some fictional characters go well together, I like to think of myself in these stories. As Francie worked through the hardships she faced in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, she taught me many valuable lessons. I could easily imagine myself walking down the streets of Brooklyn over 100 years ago with Francie. We would share our experiences as second generation Americans and realize that only times separate us. She would teach me that with hard work and perseverance you can succeed at anything you put your mind to.

Who I am? I am Livia Smolizza and this world inspires me to be extraordinary.