Welcome to Behind the G! This is a Georgia Way platform that shares student-athlete stories, hobbies, and what is important to them. To the world, student-athletes are viewed by their outcomes in their sports, but they are so much more than that. Our goal is to share with the world in their own words who they are as people, and the numerous ways they represent the G on and off the field.
Growing up, soccer was the only thing I had a passion for. In a soccer-crazed family, there isn’t much time for anything else. It wasn’t until I was 14 that I took my first art class and I realized that, despite being a beginner, I had a knack for drawing and painting. Although it was something that was new to me, I found something else I had a passion for, and suddenly I was asking my parents for sketchbooks, pencils, paints, canvases — anything I could possibly use to create art with.
Even as a beginner, I was holding myself to a high standard. This caused me to be constantly frustrated every time a piece didn’t quite turn out as I envisioned. I thought art was supposed to be realistic, intricate, and “perfect,” and I just wasn’t at a level of skill where I could achieve that. So I continued to sketch and paint, trying to improve the art that I was creating. In this chase to create perfection I grew tired and felt a little hopeless because I thought I was never going to achieve what I was seeking. I was beginning to resent this new passion of mine; progress took too long and my patience was running thin. After about a year of this constant drawing and painting, my passion for art began to dwindle. Months passed without so much as a sketch and I began to think that maybe art was just a phase.
I only started drawing again when I had another art class my sophomore year. I remember feeling this sense of dread and I realized then that I shouldn’t be dreading a class that’s actually encouraging students to tap into their creative sides and have fun. I decided to go into that year with no expectations for myself or what I created. My only goal was to create art in a way that was less clinical and to steer away from traditional methods and styles. That mindset opened up a whole new world for me. I realized how much I enjoyed art when I wasn’t trying so hard. My art became loose, fun and interesting. I have grown to love many styles of art and even now, I enjoy learning about new mediums and techniques. My favorite mediums of art are ink and watercolor, but most recently I have been using digital programs as well as graphite and gouache paints.
My passion for art was rekindled and I am so grateful everyday that I have found this outlet. In a recent surge of courage, I decided to share my art on an Instagram page because social media is often where I find my inspiration, whether it be a piece that someone else created or a photo from someone’s trip. I hope my art can inspire others but at the very least, I know that these pieces are something that I can be proud of no matter how imperfect they are.
Dani Murguia – UGA Soccer
