Question

There is a photo of Andres Valencia when he was in fifth grade. He was standing next to a painting of a clown. The clown's face is made up of different shapes. There are mismatched eyes and puffy lips that look like a pinwheel. Red hair extends from the clown's oversized head. Was Valencia in a fun house? No. He was at a professional art show showing his art. Now 12, Valencia is a well-known artist. And he is using his skills to uplift others.

Getting His Start

Valencia's paintings pop with color and different shapes. Some say that they look like the works of Picasso. He was a famous artist who also used colors and shapes in bold ways. This has led some people to call Valencia "little Picasso."

Valencia began painting around age 5. At first, he sold his paintings to family and friends. One of these friends is an art gallery owner. The friend recognized Valencia's skill. He suggested that the young artist show his paintings to the public.

No Rules

In 2021, Valencia got a spot in a well-known art show in Florida. He was 10 years old. At first, the event's organizer was unsure about letting Valencia take part. Would people like art created by someone so young? Valencia understands that some people have trouble getting past his age. "If you see a kid doing sketches on paper…a lot of people think that those drawings should not be put in a gallery," he told the New York Times. "Sometimes older people just don't get it."

But many did get it. Soon, calls for Valencia's paintings began pouring in. He even received a request from a member of BTS. In 2022, Valencia staged his first solo art show. He called the show No Rules. That's because he wanted the world to see that great art can be created by anyone. It doesn't matter how old they are.

Painting with a Purpose

Valencia is doing more than making great art, though. He is also using his talent to help others. In March 2022, he created a special painting after hearing about the war in Ukraine. Prints of the painting were sold to raise funds to aid Ukrainian youth. The painting shows a Russian soldier pushing down a group of people. There is also a Ukrainian flag. It is covered in teardrops with a pink heart near its center.

"I think that art tells stories," Valencia said. "And I am telling the story of the Ukrainian people."

What does Valencia plan to do next? One goal is very clear: "I want to do this for the rest of my life."

The article states:

Valencia understands that some people have trouble getting past his age. "If you see a kid doing sketches on paper…a lot of people think that those drawings should not be put in a gallery," he told the New York Times. "Sometimes older people just don't get it."

Which words from the passage help you understand the meaning of the word sketches?

a. you see a kid
b. getting past his age
c. those drawings
d. people have trouble

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

c. those drawings