Born an artist

Originally published on Sept. 30, 2025, for The Optimist, a student publication of ACU.

“Mother and Child” by A.J. Simon. Photo courtesy of A.J. Simon.

My dad gave my sister and me the creativity gene and made sure that we leaned into it growing up. We were always making things. We drew on the sidewalk, built sandcastles, carved pumpkins, built cardboard cars and all of the other things normal kids do, but alongside our very talented dad. I knew what good art looked like before I knew how to read, because everything that my dad created was incredible without even having to try.

By the time fifth grade came around, I thought I was destined to be a band kid and was fully committed to playing the trumpet. On the first day of class, I had a sudden change of heart to switch to art, which dramatically altered the course of my life. That year, I got a sketchbook and began drawing in it every day. I watched YouTube tutorials on how to draw cartoon characters, and then moved on to attempting realism. I drew eyes with strange eyelashes, broken-looking hands and disproportionate faces. I knew my work needed improvement because my dad was always there to tell me what to fix.

My work ethic was adopted from my mom and dad, and from my experience as an athlete. My dad played football at the University of Kentucky, and I play soccer at Abilene Christian. The same principles of discipline, consistency, and dedication needed to be successful at a sport are also necessary to be a good artist.

Baylie Simon and her dad, A.J. Simon, playing collegiate sports while wearing the number 35. Photos courtesy Baylie Simon.

I have always done everything I can to impress my dad. His support for my passions and his ability to hold me to high standards are a big reason why I have worked so hard to be where I am now. With that being said, I have my own identity within my sport and artwork. I do it for myself as much as I do it for my dad and the rest of my family.

My high school art teacher, Mr. Stickel, encouraged me to have meaning behind every piece that I made. Looking back, I feel a little embarrassed by how vulnerable some of the pieces I made are.

Making vulnerable art now wouldn’t be so easy, but back then, it gave me a high that I had never experienced before. I discovered who I wanted to be in high school, which was exciting, but came with a lot of questions and growing pains. Those questions and growing pains are reflected in my artwork.

“Open Heart” by Baylie Simon. Photo by Baylie Simon.

This piece is meant to portray the vulnerability that comes with giving your heart to someone. I like how all three components of the composition are different from each other, but are super clean and come together in a satisfying way. The piece almost feels too clean for what is going on. There should be blood pumping from the heart and blood all over the hands. It feels wrong how the hands are black and white in contrast to the yellow background and bright heart. I like making things that feel weird and don’t look right, yet are satisfying from a compositional standpoint. There are several meanings a viewer could take away from this piece, which is what makes art so awesome.

“Locked Out” by Baylie Simon. Photo by Baylie Simon.

You may look at this piece and automatically get the idea that a religiously rebellious artist made it. I’ve seen a lot of people react in a concerned and somewhat judgmental way when analyzing this piece. It’s a photo of me, but the concept was inspired by a friend of mine who was turned away from the church because of their sexuality. It was featured in the 2023 AP Art Digital Portfolio, which was a huge deal for me at the time. I wrote a statement about the piece on their website that I would have phrased differently if I were to write it today. Even so, I admire my past self for having the courage to speak about what was important to me. I still appreciate the piece even though my feelings towards religion have changed a lot since I made it. It’s powerful, and it gets people thinking.

Since college, the artwork that I’ve made has not been conceptually deep. These days, I get a creative high from writing stories that I am excited about. I hope that later in my life I’ll have more energy and time to devote to conceptual art, but for now, I am happy with what I am investing myself in. I know that art is still a big part of who I am, and it manifests itself in everything creative that I do.

Finding my highs in both art and journalism has given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose. I encourage everyone to find what their high is. That high may come from doing something that you are not particularly good at. Don’t be discouraged by your skill level. Devote your time, energy and passion to becoming good at what makes you feel whole. It is beyond worth it.