Antonio Montilla may have won the senior superlative for “Most Artistic,” but what the banner doesn’t show is why his unique art with an animated twist deserves that title.

For over ten years, creating art has been Montilla’s passion. His inspiration stems from a day trip he took with his mom at seven years old.

“She took me to an art show,” Montilla said. “This guy was presenting all these cartoons he created and I just thought it was really cool what he was doing. I bought his book and then I started copying what he did.”

Ever since he started practicing the cartoons from that book, Montilla has grown into his own unique kind of artist.

“I like storytelling art, so the ones you see in a graphic novel style or a movie style,” Montilla said. “I’m not really a traditional painter. I like my drawings to have life.”

He is currently working on a short story about a little girl who receives a blanket for her birthday that becomes her best friend. She forgets it at the park one day and the blanket waits years to see if she will return. Not only is Montilla writing the story, he is creating graphics that go along with the storyline as well.

His AP art teacher, George Hancin, appreciates Montilla’s style.

“I like how original he can be with his characters that he develops,” Hancin said. “He likes to make up his own characters and narratives, his own stories.”

Montilla plans to attend art school and applied to college with the focus in learning animation art with potentially a minor in medical illustration. After he completes art school, Montilla wants to pursue his dream career.

“I would either love to work at a Disney studio or a Pixar studio, not only doing the animation but also storyboarding, so writing the stories,” Montilla said.

“I want him to succeed in what he wants to do,” Hancin said.