When walking around Fossil, you may have stopped and noticed a whiteboard in the West Wing flex lab with a large dry-erase marker drawing on it. If so, you’d be looking at the work of sophomore Avery Elder. 

Elder began these huge works of art only about a year ago, but has been pursuing art for much longer than that. She began as soon as she was able, in elementary school, and made exponential progress over the years.

Growing up, Elder’s dad had a big impact on her interest in art. “He did a lot of really good comic book art, and I think he was a big inspiration for me,” she said. 

These whiteboard drawings weren’t initially planned; they actually started as a way to pass the time.

“It started last year when my brother had a lot of clubs, and I didn’t have a way to get home. I’d be here for, like, two hours after school, so I got bored and started doing drawings on the whiteboards. Then people started liking them, so I just kept going with it.” Elder estimates that it takes about 4-6 hours to complete one of these drawings.

Elder’s artistic style was deeply influenced by street art, such as murals, and she hopes to create one herself in the future. Until then, she uses the whiteboard as her own canvas to display her impressive pieces. 

Even with her artistic talent, Elder does not plan to make art a career, as she believes it may be unstable in the future, especially with AI. Her passion for art will remain a part of her life, but she plans to pursue a career in finance and hopes to become a Chief Financial Officer one day.

Outside of her art at school, Elder spends her creative time sketching. “Sketching was where I started from; I’ve always done pencil drawings,” she said. 

Although her work is temporary, Elder’s whiteboard art has become a unique and unofficial tradition here at Fossil, inconspicuously appearing, catching the eyes of students and staff. The brevity of these drawings brings them even more value, short-lived but greatly appreciated.

While the drawings may not last, the impact they leave on those who see them certainly does.