Young Fall River artist selling work to buy her first car

FALL RIVER — Whether with a high-tech Apple Pencil and iPad or an old-fashioned pencil and paper, Serena Guillemette is always ready to create one of her signature dystopian subjects.

Her creations, usually women, often have other-worldly characteristics and are set in imaginative spaces. Some are inspired by nature, such as her green wood nymph reaching out to touch a fawn in a wooded landscape.

“That’s my favorite right now,” Guillemette said, bringing up the creation on her iPad, where a time-lapse video quickly showed the five-hour drawing and painting process.

A junior at B.M.C. Durfee High School, Guillemette, 17, does have other interests — and drive. Or at least she’s hoping to. Guillemette is currently creating art and opportunity by selling commissioned pieces to get her driver’s license and buy her first car.

“It’s so expensive to get a license,” Guillemette said.

Guillemette — the oldest of four girls — said she lives with her grandmother, who is battling some health issues. She said her grandmother often has to take her to and from school and her part-time food service job.

“I want to buy a car so I’m not disrupting other lives,” she said.

Guillemette has sold roughly four pieces of her original art so far.

She said she’s been drawing since she was about 5 years old. She remembers drawing SpongeBob Squarepants, and her dad thinking that she had traced the image.

“I’ve always loved to draw,” Guillemette said.

Mainly a self-taught artist, Guillemette said she’s done a lot of research and watched many videos to learn about color theory and different types of art. Her sketch book was filled with drawings of the human hand and figure, animals and other penciled sketches.

She said she draws inspiration from author Stephen King, films and books such as “The Hunger Games,” and the natural world.

A few months ago, she invested in an iPad, Apple Pencil and Procreate software so she could create digital illustrations using an array of virtual brush types, colors and other artsy ephemera.

“I’ve put a lot of time into it,” Guillemette said. “I feel like I’ve definitely improved.”

Guillemette, who also enjoys writing, said she hopes to study animation and illustration — and maybe marine biology.

“I’m still not sure,” she said.

Guillemette, in fact, has many aspirations for her future. She wants to help the community and would like to join the Red Cross.

“I want to get more involved in the environment,” she said.

Her favorite aspect of creating: “If I have a vision in mind, I can bring it to life. It’s easier for me to draw it than explain it.”

Guillemette also finds creating to be a relaxing experience and likes to “just get lost in it.”

Guillemette is listed as "beaneybug"on Instagram and Patreon, and her work also is available on fiverr.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com.