Listening to music helps her creative mind

Erika Benavides attended Lee College for visual arts, and she hopes to resume her studies soon.

“My art is mostly just doodles of whatever comes out of my head.

“When I listen to music, it helps my creative mind craft it on paper. It brings out that feeling in me. Like if I listen to jazz, it brings out a mellow side. It makes me want to create something that’s peaceful. While I’m listening to the music, I just let my hands and my mind take over. When the music stops, I look at what I’ve created and tweak it from there.

“Most of my friends see my art as a hobby. I don’t. I see it as a passion. I probably spend five to eight hours a day on it, or at least until I fall asleep. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do with my life.”

— Erika Benavides