The student news site of Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Cat's Eye View

The student news site of Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Cat's Eye View

The student news site of Henry P. Becton Regional High School in East Rutherford, New Jersey

The Cat's Eye View

April Artist of the Month: Fiamma Lema

April+Artist+of+the+Month%3A+Fiamma+Lema

Fiamma Lema is Becton’s April Artist of the Month!

The Artist of the Month award only has a few criteria – be somebody “who has consistently demonstrated strong effort and skill in their art studio practice,” as explained by Mr. Mitchell Martinez, Lema’s art teacher.

Lema consistently shows passion, care and attention to detail from her artwork to her hobbies; working hard and educating herself while spending time with family, friends and enjoying extracurricular activities such as volleyball. 

Her art teacher Mr. Martinez was the one responsible for her commencement this month, who offers, “Fiamma exemplifies dedication. Her conscientious approach extends to every project, both in and out of class. A supportive and helpful classmate, she offers a steady hand to those who need it.” 

Lema started expressing herself through art at a young age, “painting with my fingers, using Play-doh and my imagination,” she explains, “However, I have this great skill due to my Nonna and my mom. My mom is who I look up to in creating art. She is who got me into it. And obviously, she learned from her mom who was super intelligent and excellent in creating art.” Lema also cites her middle school art teacher Mrs. Azzolini as somebody who has aided in improving her art and helping Lema be the best that she can.

Many of Lema’s works have been demonstrated through the world of her sketchbook. The skill of her shape, contrast and color theory have given a remarkable ability to capture animal forms.

“Fiamma exemplifies the kind of student every teacher dreams of,” Mr. Martinez praises, “Considerate, dedicated and consistently producing high-quality work. Fiamma’s insightful questions and thoughtful observations elevate class discussions. The passion she pours into her work is reflected in its beauty and skillful execution,” Mr. Martinez shares, “Her dedication to consistent studio work, coupled with her thoughtful approach to each assignment, makes her a good artist.”

As one tip for aspiring artists, Lema shares a multi-faceted philosophy, “There is no “wrong” when you make art because art is freedom. You can express yourself however you want. And if you believe you aren’t good at art, practice makes perfect. When I didn’t like how something I drew looked, I would just redo it until I did.” 

Lema says that the future is undecided, “Being a Pediatrician has been something I have lately been thinking about, but one thing I know for sure: art will be part of my life always.”

Becton gives a huge round of applause for Fiamma Lema and cannot wait to see what other amazing artistic talents she holds within. 

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About the Contributor
Rocky Esposito
Rocky Esposito, Staff Writer
Rocky Esposito is a senior at Becton Regional High School. You may have heard his name before, as he is no stranger to the Cat’s Eye View. Esposito has contributed to Becton’s newspaper since his sophomore year, using his artistic skills to make comic strips. He is very passionate about art, specifically the field of animation. Esposito has been creating art for a while, but during his freshman year he decided to turn his hobby into a career. Since then, he has already made progress toward his goals through his freelance work and YouTube channel. For one particular freelance job, he was commissioned by a comedian from Staten Island, making comics to accompany his routine. Additionally, he has also had experience with the business side of being an artist, as he actually holds a copyright to one of his illustrations. Esposito is focused on building his career, but as he puts it, “The payment of this job is not just money, it is the pleasure of being able to do what I love to do.” Along with his animation, he is also experimenting with some other mediums, such as scriptwriting and voice acting. In the future, he plans to go to an art school and major in visual arts. He also wants to get more into comedy, inspired by his previous client. Overall, in his third year of the Cat’s Eye View, Esposito is excited for the chance to venture into writing as well as share more of his passion for art with the community.