According to the young artist from Davenport, drawing isn't something she wants to do; it is something she needs to do.
"I get ideas and thoughts ... just things in my head," says Kasey Gabriel. "And, when it happens, I have to draw them. It is like a need."
It is no wonder art and creativity are naturally such a part of Kasey's life. Artistic tools, from the basics in the beginning to the more complex now, have always been readily available for Kasey, even as a baby, according to her mother.
"Her world has been infused with art from the beginning," says Kathy Thomas, Kasey's mother, a French horn player with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. "She is incredibly gifted in so many areas of the visual arts."
However, given the choice, Gabriel, a 14-year old freshman at Ridge Community High School in Haines City, says she prefers black-and-white pencil drawing.
"I like working with pencil because it is easier to control. I like shading," she says. "But I love it all - painting, graphics, pottery and drawing ... everything."
Everything is right. She has been exposed to a variety of mediums, not just visual art, such as dance and music, and she has worked with pottery and painting. In the end, she came back to pencil drawing. She was an outstanding visual arts major at the Davenport School of Arts where she just graduated from this past school year.
"She has a spatial awareness of what she is drawing. She doesn't have to have it in front of her to draw it," Thomas says. "She sees it in her mind."
Her work has been exhibited in numerous shows, for which she has won several awards through the years. Numerous pieces of her work have been sold, as well.
Over the summer, Kasey visited her grandmother, Nancy "Nana" Tait, in Illinois. The trip was just the first over the next four years. These educational summer visits will allow Gabriel to attend classes at The Art Institute of Chicago, a world-renowned fine arts center that houses a museum and a school.
Tait graduated from the Illinois State University on an art scholarship. Her work is in the State of Illinois Building as well as having been exhibited numerous times in a variety of places through the years.
If things go Gabriel's way, she will follow in her grandmother's footsteps, completing college with a degree in art and working in the field she loves for the rest of her life.
"Her future is in art. It is her niche. Her focus and her world," Thomas says.
Gabriel agrees. "It isn't just a way to express myself - it's fun too!"
Se'an Yost
The unique style of her painting was what first caught his attention. He realized immediately that Se'an Yost was quite a talent. Months later, Buddy Sears says he knows his first impression of the young artist was right on.
"She is the most talented young person I've come across," Sears says. "She is an amazing talent and a force."
Those words are high praise coming from one of the resident artists at the Arts Ensemble International Healing Arts Center & Education Foundation.
The admiration is mutual. Yost says Sears has taught her what art, particularly painting, is all about. "Before I met Mr. Sears, I enjoyed painting," the 15-year old says. "Now, it isn't just putting paint on the canvas - it's about being a part of the canvas."
Yost has been working with Sears for six months as his understudy. "This is intense painting. I'm not teaching the basics here. I am giving very little guidance," Sears says. "We are digging deep."
Yost has been "digging deep" since she was a toddler walking in paint in her living room with delighted parents watching.
"I would lay a huge piece of paper out with nontoxic paints when she was very little and let her go," says her mother, Cyn. "And, she would go for hours - walking in it, drawing with her hands in it."
Her immature curiosity of art has evolved into the artist admired today by many.
Her work has a earned her accolades not just from Sears but from many others. She has also been the recipient of numerous awards and has sold at least a half a dozen pieces of work.
"I love art because I can express myself visually," Yost explains. "I see things in my mind and express them in a way that people can understand and see using art."
Yost's favorite forms of art are painting with oils and airbrushing.
The Arts Ensemble has been a healing place for her, as well. Her mother says her daughter is much more extroverted and self-confident.
"The center has made her proud of her work," Cyn says. "They are so supportive and non-judgmental."
Sears explains that he thinks because of her unique style of painting, she might have ran into resistance from some.
"Because her work is so different, some might not have understood," he says. "But I knew as soon as I saw it, what a great talent she is."
He says that working with her, teaching her the finer points of art, has been a complete pleasure.
Jane Waters, the Arts Ensemble's executive director, agrees.
"Se'an is an incredible talent and I'm thrilled to be able to work with her here and in Boxing for Life," Waters says. Waters first met Yost in the Muay Thai Boxing class she (Waters) teaches. "I told Se'an about the Arts Ensemble and a week later, she was in class there, too."
The Florida Virtual School student enjoys abstract and modern art the most and hopes to one day have a career that includes painting.
"I love painting," Yost says. "It has my whole heart."
Destiny and Dustin King
The brother and sister are similar in many ways. Both are considered good students, have a desire to do their very best, and are extremely talented. They are both also extremely artistic.
But, even though they both enjoy art, Dustin King, 13, and his sister, Destiny, 10, have their own favorites concerning the medium. Working in a variety of types of art - clay, pencils, constructive and paint - the two have kept themselves busy.
"I like sketching and drawing with black-and-white pencils the best," Dustin says. "I can just sketch what I see and imagine in my mind without having to worry about the colors. The drawing just flows better that way."
Several years ago, as a student in Raedell Coogler's Bethune Academy (Haines City) art class, Dustin was given the assignment to create a life journal. The project entailed creating art to help enhance and illustrate the written diary of events that happened in the student's life.
"It's kind of like scrapbooking but with art," Dustin explained. He enjoyed creating the life journal so much, he is currently creating one on his own and says the journal is his favorite work.
"I told the students then that the journal could eventually become an heirloom for their children and grandchildren," Coogler says. "Dustin's journal was unbelievably good."
Coogler says that neither Dustin's nor Destiny's art is ever like someone else's. "Both Destiny and Dustin are talented all around," the teacher says. "They are good at everything. Their work always has that extra spark - it's never mediocre, always outstanding."
Destiny's love of art is apparent. "I'll do whatever comes to me - drawing, painting," she says. "I'll do anything - it's all fun."
Destiny says she would like to be a professional artist one day. Until then, she says she enjoys art class immensely.
"Mrs. Coogler really makes it fun for me," Destiny says. "The class is unique because it's fun and I can express myself, too."
Expressing themselves through art is a big reason the King siblings enjoy it.
"I can draw anything I imagine and it's mine. It's personal," Dustin says.
Coogler wants the students to make their artwork their own.
"I show them the steps of creating the art, but they add their own creativity," Coogler says.
The King children have spent many hours at home working in art, as well. Their parents, Michael and Carla King, have encouraged their creativity.
"We enjoy working on art together," says Carla, their mother.
"Basically, we just like spending time together as a family, and art is one way to do that."
