Jannet Habibovic, Div. 571, has been drawing ever since she can remember.

When she was in elementary school she was extremely close to her art teacher and there her interest in art began.

“After my first trip to the Art Institute, I knew that one day I wanted to be part of something that big and beautiful,” she said. “I just completely immersed myself into it.”

She still has many of her full sketchbooks from when she was seven years old.

Habibovic is currently in Mr. Ceh’s AP Drawing and Painting, and Painting III. She has also previously taken two years of Graphic Design with Ms. Diamond.

In Mr. Ceh’s classes she worked on a piece for the “Dia de los Muertos” exhibit in the art gallery. It was an old photograph which Habibovic edited. She then painted additional details, including a skull, on top.

“I worked on it for four class periods a day — including my lunch — for a month as well as at home over the weekend,” Habibovic said.

But even though she spent a long time on this piece, it is not her favorite.

“My favorite piece so far is a Frida Kahlo and Diego bench I created over the summer for Gallery 37,” she said.

It was the first time she had attempted a realistic portrait, and it was challenging for her.

“Challenges are what make art fun,” Habibovic said.

At the end of the summer the bench was sold at the Gallery 37 annual gala. She did not receive the money because of the nature of the internship, which takes away all rights from Habibovic to her pieces and thus she receives no stipend. The money that the piece raised went to supporting Gallery 37.

Habibovic hopes to use art in her future career.

“I’m applying to a couple art schools in an attempt to attend next year,” she said.

Though she is still researching art schools she knows she will be applying to Columbia College in Chicago and possibly the Academy of Art.

“My favorite part of being an artist is being able to create feeling,” Habibovic said. “I love being in control of what people feel because then you can send a message.”