Listen Live
Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

Allen Bryant, 57, drew blueprints for the Norfolk Southern Railway.  Uncles John Poole and Joseph Lowery were painters, as well. Rebecca Lowery watched her grandfather display his natural talent and at age 4 convincingly told him that she, too, could draw.

Now 13, the Charlotte, North Carolina teen is winning acclaim for her work and has her sights set on attending the Art Institute in Charlotte, upon high school graduation and someday own an art gallery.

“Drawing makes me happy. You pick a marker and paint brush, it has a mind of its own,” Rebecca told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

On the weekends, Rebecca averages at least 15 hours per day drawing.  During the week, the home-schooled student completes homework assignments and draws for two to three hours per day. She loves cartoon drawing and her family says she is a natural for it. She also enjoys drawing animals and nature.

At times, she’ll collaborate with her grandfather on different projects. For a particular rose drawing, that her grandfather sold, he awarded the energetic teen with a certificate.

Rebecca also finds time for fun and games with her six siblings and they often ask her to draw for them.

In many ways, Rebecca is a typical student. While attending Chapel Road Elementary, the avid reader, won $50 for reading the most books and earned a certificate for her art work.  While attending Hornets Nest, in the third grade, Rebecca earned a Youth Art Exhibit Certificate from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Visual Arts Department, and a second award at the Wachovia Gallery/Spirit Center for Arts Education.

After four years of home schooling, Rebecca has tested on a 12th grade level in Language Arts. She enjoys basketball, computer gaming and the guitar, but everywhere she goes, a sketch board is with her and she said she would like to sketch the president someday.

“Sure, I am all for it, if it happens, to do a painting of Obama,” she said.

Rebecca has now entered the world of storyboard painting, which is the graphic organization of illustrations or images in the early stages of visualizing a film, interactive media sequences, animation or motion graphic.

Hip hop filmmaker Tim Greene (“An Intimate Interview With the Masaai,” “Raykwan’s Cuties”), sent Rebecca’s mother, Eve Lowery, an email asking if Rebecca could do a story board painting for one of his movies.

Rebecca and her family attended Greene’s “Lil Homeez” casting call four years ago in Charlotte, where she auditioned for a movie and she has participated in recent film-related events for Greene in Atlanta and Charlotte.

“People who are persistent and consistent, I eventually give them a shot. I saw that Rebecca had other great talent besides acting and I put her in my projects,” Greene said, adding, “No other black girl is doing storyboards that I know of.”

Greene said Rebecca dazzled the Atlanta representatives with her intellect and is a role model for other gents and other kids are inspired by her.

“Tim’s a strong pillar for our family. He allows us to learn more about the industry, very supportive and we appreciate him for that,” Eve Lowery said.

Rebecca’s advice for other youngsters is pretty simple:

“Draw if it makes you happy, keep on doing it.  Follow your passion and keep at it.”