Sophomore Pilar Silvera’s interest in art started over 10 years ago. Silvera recalls her first memory of her father teaching her to draw a face around the age of five. Though, according to Silvera’s parents, her exposure to art did not start there. During Silvera’s adolescence, she constantly drew on walls, cut up her clothes and colored all over any pages she could find. Once, as a toddler, she caught her finger in a sewing machine, which in turn piqued her interest in sewing.
Since her childhood, Silvera has expanded her passion for art, experimenting with different forms such as sewing and ceramics, though she prefers painting overall. Silvera enjoys drawing portraits, and she uses art as a form of expression for her profound emotions. Within her paintings, Silvera incorporates the strong feelings surrounding the people she loves, the experiences she encounters, the music she listens to and an amalgamation of various ideas she finds inspiring.
“The illusion that is created when shadows and highlights are added on a canvas or paper really excites me, and it’s almost like I made a human from scratch. When I do art, I’m putting my emotions and honesty down to make something unique and cool. I take inspiration from everything because I’m always interpreting everything I feel. My biggest motivation is the idea of coming up with something entirely unique and bringing it to life. I get immense joy seeing my art as it reminds me of my dedication to get better at my craft,” Silvera said.
Silvera completed a semester of Visual Art Comprehensive (VA Comp) during her freshman year of high school, though she owes all that she learned about art to her time back in middle school in her home country of Jamaica. While in secondary school, Silvera learned still life style, pen sketching, paper mache and the importance of discussing her art in writing. Though Silvera does not currently participate in any visual art classes, she expresses her eagerness toward perfecting her craft throughout her upcoming junior year.
Silvera involves herself in numerous extracurricular activities, notably holding membership in the National Art Honor Society, in which she collaborates on various projects in addition to volunteering. Silvera also participates and models in NC’s fashion club and magazine, Dress Code, and will appear in their first issue. Additionally, Silvera heavily includes herself in the Model United Nations and the Beta Club, showcasing her commitment to academics.
“I met Pilar last semester in my literature class; she made me feel welcome in her group. I think her art is absolutely gorgeous; it’s really expressive. Her makeup and paintings are usually really colorful and eye-catching, too; it is great. She is a friendly and sociable person. I feel like she’s the kind of person who’s always available to chat. She’s honestly just a really nice person,” sophomore Breanna Muriithi said.
Silvera’s Instagram, which showcases her art, boasts over 200 followers. Silvera also proudly discusses her Jamaican heritage, as it becomes the topic for a considerable amount of her work. Through Hurricane Melissa in 2025, she spoke out and brought attention to the tragedy it brought upon the island and its people. She also offers commissions for her art. Those interested in viewing additional art from her or purchasing a custom piece from Silvera can find her at @ki11pill on Instagram or email her at [email protected].
