The curator also says she’s always looking for new artists in the gallery. The Skiatook Arts Center is also having a grand reopening soon on July 2nd featuring artist Jeremy Arnold. Nevaeh said she’s hoping to have around 20 paintings to present. She will also be doing a showcase of her artwork at the Skiatook Art Center in January. McKuin said as a curator, she can’t wait to see how the young girl will grow as an artist. Nevaeh is also self taught and hasn’t received any formal training. This brush can take the place of a round or flat depending on the way the artist holds the brush. The Cat’s Tongue shape comes to point for more control. The Filbert’s shape can vary from a flatter brush with a rounded outer edge to an oval shape. Being able to reach out to our young artists and the undiscovered I feel like is one of the biggest things that I can do to help them, to make sure they know that they don’t need to limit themselves because we are always our own worst critics,” McKuin said. This brush is similar to a flat but has has a round outer edge.
“When I was in high school, I never would have dreamed of being able to do something like this. McKuin said helping people through art is very important and she hopes Alayna’s story inspires other young artists. “Usually it’s just my family members that buy so I was really happy that other people would get to buy my paintings,” Nevaeh said. Nevaeh already sold one of her paintings in the gallery for $275. I knew instantly that we had to get her in.” “I saw the work, and I was like ‘Oh my God, can you come in?’” McKuin recalled. Lauren McKuin is the curator of the Skiatook Art Center, and she told FOX23 she was impressed with Nevaeh’s work as soon as she saw it. She said she’s been painting with oils since she was 11-years-old. “I didn’t think mine would be as good, but I’m happy that they’re up here with the other artists.” “I was really nervous because I look around, and there’s a lot of other good paintings,” Nevaeh said.