Twins, Brooke and Jessica Beaver
Twin sisters, Brooke and Jessica Beaver, have been involved in the arts since they were young.
"We've always had a creativeness that finds its way into everything we do, for the most part. Ever since we were young, we've been drawing, writing and playing instruments. It's hard to decide when we actually jumped into the world of art. It's always been a part of our lives," they say.
There have been several notable milestones in their lives so far in art and literature. They have won ribbons in art contests and displayed their work. Brooke won a local poetry contest. Jessica has published three books since 2013. She has been writing books since she was 10. She has completed 12 books and is working on publishing a fantasy/science fiction trilogy she wrote at the age of 12. Her published works include "The Night of Halloween," "A Father's Love" and "The Rise of War."
Along with art and writing, they both play piano, and Brooke plays guitar. They participate in a pre-college music program through East Tennessee State University. The ETSU Music Pre-College program is for students who show motivation to study in a comprehensive music education setting and have the potential to reach an accomplished level in their major instrument.
They use their artistic creations as a way to express themselves and build self-confidence.
"Art, for us, is sharing a part of who we are with others. We both deal with shyness at times, and so often people don't get the chance to know us. By creating works of art and allowing others to see what we're capable of, it gives us essential self-confidence, something everyone needs. Art is a part of who we are; therefore, there is a personal aspect of creating a piece, because we know that what we put on paper or canvas is going to reflect our character.
"Art has taken hold of our imaginations and opened our eyes to the endless opportunities of sharing ideas with others. It feels good when others appreciate the hard work you've put into a piece. It's gratifying. Our styles sometimes slightly differ from each other, but for the most part we strive to capture realistic tones in our work. We enjoy capturing one of nature's many brilliant scenes, animals, and occasionally we enjoy creating fan art for movies. Over time, our styles have gone from our childhood cartoons to portraits that capture the miniscule details of a person's expressions. We are always learning, improving and absorbing new information whenever we can. And of course, we practice, practice, practice," they say.
Their art teachers in middle school and high school helped set the twins' sights on a future career in art. Their family members are also supporters. Their mother sings and used to be a part of a Christian singing group that traveled around to local churches.
"We have been told that some family members of the past have more than dabbled in creativity and displayed exceptional talent, both in art and music. We love them and thank them for teaching us to never give up on our dreams. Most importantly, we give God credit for all of the wonderful opportunities that we've had so far. If it were not for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we would not even have these gifts to use.
"Being a twin is like having a built-in best friend for life. We both agree that being twins, while a blessing, can be tough at times. Individuality is something we have to work hard for since we are often viewed as the same person. While we both share the passion for art, we strive to set ourselves apart. While there may be a bit of competition underlying our works, we are always proud and encouraged by each other."
They aren't sure exactly what they want to do in the future, except that it will involve art. Jessica's dream is to write books, while Brooke leans toward a career in art.
Brooke and Jessica are 16-years-old. Their parents are Joe and Kim Beaver. They attend Daniel Boone High School and are from Limestone, Tennessee.
Their work is exhibited during May in the VIP Room at A Work of Art Gallery and Gifts, Bristol, Tenn. A meet the artists reception is May 20 from 5-7 p.m. For more click HERE.
