Anyone can paint and draw something on a piece of paper, but it takes a true talented person to create something worth calling “art,” as stated by Hagop Najarian, Art department chair.

Hong Mei is that talented artist, and her artistic skills are what made her stand out to Najarian, and by many of her fellow classmates.

Every so often the art department has a certain someone that qualifies for a special feature called “Spotlight.”

Mei was that certian someone, that qualified and exceeded in Najarian’s eyes, and was such an inpspiration to many of the students in the art department.

Mei is a full-time mother, a student here at Cerritos, and is also currently working in the school library.

” I thought Mei would be a great candidate to be recognized in the paper. She is such a hard-worker, tremendously gifted and such an inspiration to everyone,” explained Najarian.

Mei has been living in the United States for three years now.
She and her family, which consists of her husband and son came to California from China in the year 2005.

Back three years ago, Mei couldn’t speak, write, let alone even understand English., but throughout the years she has become a quick learner.

Najarian has come to admire the pieces that Mei has produced over the courses she has taken with him.

” She took my first class during the summer, and right then there I saw that she had an eye for technique,” Najarian explained.

Mei had little experience before she became part of the Cerritos art department.

” I have improved a lot, but it’s my secret!” Mei joked.

From drawing and painting real life props, to landscapes and even self-portraits of herself, Mei couldn’t set her heart entirely to one.

” I love to draw anything that is beautiful to draw, I can’t choose, I love it all,” explained Mei.

Art has become such a passion for Mei, that she jokingly admitted that she forgets to eat, and sleep because of the great impact drawing has had on her.

But being an art major was never part of her educational plan.

” I was going into accounting before I decided to change into art. I have always been good at mathematics, but accounting was too much for me,” Mei mentioned.

Mei has been a hit in the art department since day one, according to her fellow classmates.

” She puts a lot of heart into her paintings she is always learning, and it’s impressive because she is works at school and is a mom, all at the same time,” marveled Sonia Hernandez, art major.

Mei has tried every sort of drawing form out there, from cubism, abstract, impressionist , she admitted that that her personal style and favorite was realistic.

” I like to work with real life objects, like the human models, my style would be classical realistic,” Mei remarked.

One of her latest pieces was a self-portrait of her working at the library, which was all done by charcoal.

” It probably took me around 20 hours to complete it, but I love it,” exclaimed Mei.
Najarian has been there to support Mei in all her paintings and drawings.
He feels blessed to have her in her class and has seen how she has blossomed throughout the semester.

Mei couldn’t have been happier to have Najarion as a professor.

” He has always supported me, and has been more than patience with me, but he’ awesome!” Mei expressed.

Mei doesn’t only have natural talent, but she comes prepared to class.
” She comes to class with a book for reference, and apart from that she always finishes her assignments earlier than the rest of us, and they come out amazing, said Cristina Rivera, art major.

Apart being highly recognized for her artistic skills that is not the only thing that sets her apart from the rest.

“She is extremely modest, and such a great role model for any inspiring art student out there,” Najarian voiced.