Why this Massena 6th grader loves illustrating her best friend’s poems

Might 02, 2024 —

Riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna is aware of finest mates rule: “You are the queen of my world. When [you] speak, I hear the revolution coming!”

Makena Odjick, a sixth grader from Massena, says that is what her finest pal, Vaishnavi, or V, is like. 

“I really like how highly effective she is,” mentioned Makena. “She has written a letter to the president, and that is what I really like. She’s so assured. She’s been there for me since fourth grade.”

She’s Makena’s “different half.” Vaishnavi’s vocabulary captivates her and the best way she makes use of language in her writing.

“I might by no means consider the poems she’s written, simply the best way she hooks her reader,” mentioned Makena. “She loves it once I take her phrases and I flip them into my drawings.”

Collectively, they’ve written and illustrated a lot of poems. Makena caught up just lately with Northern Mild co-host, Monica Sandreczki, to speak about their artistic course of.

This dialog has been calmly edited for readability.

MAKENA ODJICK: “I’ve solely written a few poems. It is not my space of experience; that’s her space of experience. Her tradition mixes with mine and we create wonderful paintings (her trend drawings are flawless. The best way her drawings look are simply so cool as a result of it is cool to see a distinct tradition being represented from my story).

It is simply actually enjoyable how our concepts combine and I simply actually prefer it.

MONICA: What’s one other poem that she’s written that you have drawn for, or one thing that you have written that she’s drawn for?

MAKENA: There’s so many examples. She had written a poem a few bunch of various sorts of cats. And, I took her phrases, her highly effective vocabulary and I drew this midnight black cat with vibrant inexperienced eyes. Oh my god, it was so stunning. I laminated it so I did not destroy it. It simply matches her phrases so nicely. She beloved it. I beloved how I used completely different shades of blue and black to make the colour, so it is a distinctive coloration. It is not simply black or it isn’t simply Navy blue. It is a combine. That is our favourite story we labored on collectively.

MONICA: Do you bear in mind a number of the strains from her poem?

MAKENA: This was endlessly in the past. It was in fifth grade. I am in sixth grade now. It was like,

The best way the coat sparkled

the best way the inexperienced eyes glimmered

the best way the coat made your eyes shimmer

the best way it glowed at the hours of darkness

the best way the inexperienced glowing eyes gave him his spark.

That is what gave me the thought of that cat, and that is what impressed the entire drawing. It was wonderful. It is most likely my favourite one I’ve finished to date along with her.

MONICA: You’d mentioned earlier than typically, on your drawings, you would possibly do 15 completely different sketches simply to essentially nail it. Did it’s important to do this for the cat drawing?

MAKENA: Oh, that cat took greater than 50, not less than.

MONICA: Fifty? 5-0?

MAKENA: Yeah! Only for the define. It took endlessly as a result of I wished to get his hair texture excellent and I saved messing up! I went, “I must take a break.” I took a break, performed some Roblox, went again to it, and had this concept. I drew the eyes and the eyes took not less than 5 tries. I took it again to [V]. She beloved it. Then, I coloured it in; the coloring took not less than 30 tries, not less than, simply to get the combination proper. Then I acquired it, after which I used to be finished. So, altogether most likely took 85 to attract the cat. It was actually tough.

MONICA: That is dedication!

MAKENA: I like my artwork being first rate. Not good, as a result of nothing’s good, however adequate that it seems to be skilled.

MONICA: I do know there is a sure approach you want to make use of.

MAKENA: No mechanical pencils. I hate them: too costly, hate the lead.

I like utilizing the fundamental No. 2 pencil, or any pencil I can discover. As soon as it is sharpened, I’ll write a bunch of stuff down simply so I can get it used as a result of a used tip offers you extra management. It is not so darkish. You possibly can flip the pencil and the grooved tip offers you that texture. I do not sharpen my pencil till I am finished drawing. I press actually gentle, so the pencil final me not less than a few drawings.

MONICA: Do you’ve one with you?

MAKENA: No, really. I left it in my jean jacket, which I really like as a result of it is acquired six pockets. I often have a pencil in there. I haven’t got one with me now. If I did, I might positively draw one thing.

MONICA: What do you’re keen on about working with [Vaishnavi] a lot?

MAKENA: She has been there for me since 4th grade. We simply actually join. And, I really like her phrases. I might by no means consider the poems she’s written, simply the best way she pulls you in, the best way she hooks her reader. How highly effective she is, and the way assured she is. She has written a letter to the president, and that is what I really like. She’s so assured about it. She’s a strong younger lady and he or she retains me in line.