6th Grade, 4th Place, Sonia Delaunay

Great Job Julia! Well researched, well written, and an interesting essay on a person I had never heard of before. You should be very proud of yourself. Kylie

Julia
Ecker Hill International Middle School
6th Grade
             
A Bold and Unique Artist
 
Have you ever seen any dazzling, vivid, exhilarating paintings?  Have you seen the hues pop out at you, brilliant and glowing with colors?  Have you detected the bold circles and squares that scream out, “Look at me?”  These are the paintings of Sonia Delaunay.

If I could meet anyone in the world, from any country, during any time period, it would be Sonia Delaunay.  I wamt to meet Sonia because she has created beautiful, alluring, contemporary paintings.  It would be amazing to converse with such an amazing artist! She was known for working a lot with geometric shapes and bright colors. 
           
Firstly, as Leonardo da Vinci said, “He who loves practice without theory is like the sailor who boards a ship without a rudder and compass and never knows where he may cast.”  Sonia existed a little like this.  For a part of her life, she didn’t quite know what her style was, so she created a large variety of paintings.

Plus, do you know how interesting Sonia’s life was?  She lived in six countries(Ukraine, Germany, France, Russia, Spain and Portugal), was married twice (first to a man named Wilhelm Uhde, then to Robert Delaunay, who she spent most of her life with), and painted multitudes of abstract art, including Rythme, Matra M530A, Blanket, Disk, Bal Bullier, Electric Prisms, Marketplace at Minho, Rythem Couleur, Philomene,  Circus, Finnish Landscape, and Ville de Paris.  Another one of Sonia’s achievements was she cofounded the Orphism Art Movement, which emphasized abstraction and bright colors (Wikipedia).  I would want to learn about Sonia’s life and how it lead to her becoming such a talented artist.  I really enjoy doing art, and it would be amazing to get tips on how to create my own art from an awe-inspiring artist like Sonia! 
           
Moreover, I would want Sonia to feel comfortable, so I would insist that we meet at Sonia’s home in Paris, where she spent some of her happiest years.  Do you know how much time Sonia spent undergoing good times at her home?  A home provides good times the way an umbrella provides shelter from rain.  Sonia’s home in Paris was the place where Sonia enjoyed life with her husband, Robert Delaunay, and her son, Charles for almost 30 years.  Vincent Van Gogh said, “An artist needn’t be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.” Sonia was very passionate for her family in this way and spent many happy years tending to her relations and painting during her years in her Paris home.  She would feel at ease because of her memories of joyful times there. During Sonia’s life in Paris, she fabricated many stylish dresses as well as trinkets for her family’s home. That was also the time she started exploring color.  I think that if we met at Sonia’s home in Paris, she would certainly feel secure!
           
The first question I would ask Sonia is, “How do you feel about your paintings?”  I would inquire this because I am very interested in Sonia’s opinion of her own works of art.  I know that Sonia always thought she was working in her husband’s shadow because he was a very popular and skilled artist. I would love to know what Sonia thought of her own paintings and skills as an artist, since her husband was always more famous than her. Do you know how terrible it would feel to perceive that your relative is more eminent than you are?  It is most definitely not a good feeling.  One time, my younger sister and I went on a ropes course.  My sister was better than I was at it, so she got much more attention. I definitely know what it feels like to be left in the shadows! 
           
On another hand, I would adore to know what inspired Sonia to paint in the abstract, contemporary way she did.  It’s extremely different than most other works of art I have seen before.  It’s such an interesting, cubist type of art!  Yes, it would be amazing to learn the secrets behind Sonia’s paintings.
           
Lastly, I would like Sonia to know how her life changed history.  Thanks to Sonia’s help, the Orphism Art Movement occurred.  Sonia’s paintings have also inspired many young artists to paint, including me.  Thanks to Sonia, inspiration aroused inside of me to become a contemporary artist like her. 
           
I also want Sonia to know that her art is important!  She generated an abundance of delightful paintings!  Since Sonia always believed she was working in her husband’s shadow, I want her to know that her paintings are just as great.  Sonia accomplished things that her husband never did.  For example, Sonia was a fashion designer for a part of her life!  Her husband never did that.  I would love to obtain fame through fashion design!  I really want Sonia to understand how her work was better than she thought.  According to Andy Warhol, “Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.”  I want to tell Sonia that she was famous longer than that.  She has been commemorated for almost 100 years, and she is still remembered today!  I would love to tell her that her works of art do have importance in our world.  Her art has been appreciated for numerous years, and I think that Sonia should know that!
           
In conclusion, Sonia Delaunay was an amazing person!  Her art was phenomenal, her life was fantastic, and she should never be forgotten.  I would love to chat with an artist with so many interesting experiences in life.  I think I could really learn a lot from her.  If I got the opportunity to ever meet this unique artist, I would absolutely jump with jubilation!