Student Spotlight: Linda Zhao

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MILPITAS, CA -For nearly as long as she can remember, 11-year-old Linda Zhao has been inspired by the arts.

“Ever since I knew how to pick up a pencil, I always liked drawing,” the Spangler sixth-grader said earlier this week. “I feel like I can really show off my art and share my feelings in it. And it’s really fun because you get to spend time on it, like four hours for this instance, and once you’re done, you’re really proud of it.”

Linda said she created her piece “Hold On Pain Ends (HOPE)” at home using watercolor, acrylic, and marker. It is influenced by the work of Finland artist Jonna “Scandy Girl.”

“I saw her pictures and there was this one wolf that was howling and crying, but the tears had a picture to it, and I really liked that it was abstract but realistic,” she said. “So I wanted to draw it too.”

Linda added that the puzzle pieces on the bottom of the painting were inspired by another artist, where half of a tiger was drawn with fur but the other half looked like pieces were cracking. The final touch to the artwork was the quote “Hold On Pain Ends,” which she credits to her friend Naomi.

Even though it is admittedly one of her favorite art pieces, Linda says she wanted to give it to her teacher Susan Nery for her birthday.

“I like the feeling of when you give someone something. It makes you feel warm on the inside,” she said.
When Linda isn’t found drawing, she enjoys swimming, taking dance classes, and playing piano, the latter of which she has been doing for six years. Linda also knows how to play clarinet and flute, and is enrolled in Chinese class. She shared her hopes to learn even more languages in the future, referencing Spanish and French.

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