Studio Note #1- The Art of Not Erasing

Hi everyone, Inis here. Welcome to the first blog of LaGuardia’s Equitable Arts Program! I created this program as a way for passionate teens to get involved in the fight for greater art accessibility. Our blog section, Studio Notes, is a platform for us to discuss this topic in greater detail through writing and connect it to our personal experiences, thereby raising awareness for equity. 

 My own art journey began at the age of six. I remember being infatuated with my erasers, using those rectangular rubber tools to remove every mark. It was as if erasers belonged in my left hand at all times. Yet they always left a disastrous trail of eraser shavings that left my floors with gray crumbs. It wasn’t until my first art teacher physically took them away and gave me one rule of not erasing that I was challenged to step outside my comfort zone.

Jinhua (14x14) Mixed media Gold/Silver Leaf & Oil paint on canvas. 2025

After being accepted to Fiorello H LaGuardia in 2022 as a fine arts major, the ability to be immersed in all mediums was ineffable. From ceramics and printmaking to charcoal and oil, my exploration halted my habit of erasing. Now, I enjoy creating mixed media paintings with gold and silver leaf. Seeing my brushes overlap as the painting evolves and becomes multidimensional reminds me why erasers are no longer in my left hand. 

Carrying this rule of not erasing with me now, in my sketches and beyond, shapes my perspective of the world. Art has evolved into a way for me to see people beyond physical differences. I’ve learned to keep drawing to expand my own story and help others find theirs. 

Creating LaGuardia’s Equitable Arts Program has been my outlet for bringing my lessons to younger versions of myself. To show them that creativity exists everywhere, even with a piece of paper and a pencil (not erasers). This initiative has fostered my understanding of stories from youth in my community and my connection with young activists who share my passion for accessibility. 

So, what can you expect from Studio Notes? It is a place where our writers can share their personal experiences about the art world. I have so many ideas, some include my oral histories with how art transformed the lives of incarcerated people and exploring The Basement Workshop in Chinatown. If you want to hear more about the importance of creativity, this is the space for you. I will be writing alongside my team, who will give their introductions in our next posts, and we are all so excited to share the intersection of our lived experiences with art. We hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as we enjoy writing them.

Until the next note,

Inis