My name is Anna Cherepowich and I am an 18-year old high school student from Massachusetts. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the blue on on our planet, naming off fish and coral species, and learning the workings of the oceans. Art has been another passion of mine just as long as learning about the oceans has. I love combining my love for marine life and the environment with my love for art, so most of my artwork features nature. My most-used mediums include Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils and graphite pencil. I have discovered that each piece is a learning experience and hope that I can inspire others too. We know more about the moon than our oceans. I want to use my art to raise awareness of the 71% of the surface of our earth that is the ocean and the problems it faces in our rapidly changing climate.

Last fall, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to spend a semester at The Island School on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The mission of The Island School is to teach students how to live better in a place. Students learn about sustainability by researching it, working it and living it. Aside from getting my open water SCUBA certification and extending my classroom beneath the surface of the ocean, I studied marine biology, ecology, environmental art and did a semester-long research project on oceanography with the Cape Eleuthera Institute. I also had the opportunity to help with an art installation and work alongside Bahamian artist Antonius Roberts. I used the proceeds of my art sales to help fund this amazing experience that was life-changing for me on so many levels.

Since returning from Island School, I have been on a mission to make connections and learn all that I can from the incredible community of scientists and artists out there working to protect the ocean so that I can get ideas about where my future might take me.

If you’re curious to hear more of my story, you can listen to a recent podcast interview here.