
Bryan Rollins
Draven "The Kid Artist" Baggett in her studio.
For Draven, age 5, creativity is just how it works. From her studio, she's free to explore her imagination through paint. I was invited into her studio to have a look for myself.
Draven has been making work for as long as she can remember. Her mom, Khalifa, a talented artist and model, says one day she just put some paper out and let Draven go. "I do my paintings in whatever style I want," says Draven.
This Friday night, Draven is debuting her work to the public in a group Halloween-themed show at Tako's Treasures, a vintage pop-up shop on North Main. Erica S. Qualy, owner and the show's curator, is a big fan of Draven's painting. Says Erica: "Khalifa posted some of her work online and i commented that she should totally be in the show."
"It's a Halloween picture." I got a look at one of the paintings to be exhibited of a pumpkin surrounded by ghosts. "[My mommy] told me about [the art show] and I said 'I wanna go to it.' and so i painted this. I think its gonna be cool and fun." We went into her studio, a bedroom her parents set aside just for Draven. The walls were covered in colors and she showed me stacks of small canvases ranging from 'just started' to 'reworked a few times over.' "All the kids get to come in here and just play around," Khalifa chimed in. I asked her how many other paintings she'd be submitting. "I don't really know, but i'm gonna make a skeleton."
You can see Draven's work Friday, October 20th in the SPooKy ScARy ART SHOW!, hosted by Tako's Treasures. 7 N Main St. 5 PM - 9 PM