The word “art” is one that is used frequently and in a variety of contexts. But what is the definition?

Is art simply a process, a creation, a concept, a belief, or a method of taking a single idea and building something from the ground up? Or is it an essence of who a person is that is personified in different mediums?  Perhaps it is a little bit of each.

The beauty of art is that there is no one definition. It means something different to everyone.

Alexander Eud is a junior who has transformed his passion, love, and dedication and turned it into his major.

“I was declared as a business major entering college and I was thinking of minoring in art,” Eud said. “After taking a few art classes my freshmen year, a professor at Pace persuaded me to really consider being an art major. He believed I had potential and it kind of got to my head. During my sophomore year I decided to become an art major and I’ve loved every moment of it.”

Eud grew up in Spring Valley, New York and became artistically inspired during his childhood. He loved cartoons and found a muse in shows such as “Pokemon” and “Dragonball Z”, that “really sparked” his creativeness.

“I always had a sketchbook with me for as long as I can remember. Having it around with me, I guess you can say sparked my artistic side and thinking,” Eud said.

In the fourth grade Eud joined an art studio club and loved it. As he grew up, he consistently worked to evolve with the advancing technology. Today, he is well versed in digital and traditional art mediums.

However, though many things in his life inspired him, Eud was always inspired to draw by his father who encouraged him as a child.

“Growing up I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a family that always advised me to do something I love to do.” Eud explained.

“I always got judged for being an art major.” He continued, “People would say I’m not going to get a high paying job, but I’ve learned to shrug it off because at the end of the day I’m studying something I love to do.”

With the support of his family proudly standing behind him, Eud has worked in a vast number of artistic practices but finds charcoal to be his favorite.

“I love the fact that there is so much control over the light and dark contrast, “ Eud said. “Unlike pencil, when you shade in there is just a tint of grey or dark grey; when using charcoal you can go from white all the way to black.”

With two semesters left before his expected graduation, Eud will continue to hone the skills he has developed here at Pace and will leave with experience in many different branches of art.

“I enjoy seeing others improve in their works, and I love learning new skills and improving my own. There are so many different mediums of art and I always try to strive in each of them.”

Euds work will be on display in Choate Art Gallery during the spring as part of an exhibit that consists of work created by students in the Project Studio course with Prof. Duston Spear.