A paintbrush touches the white canvas. In a matter of minutes, the blank canvas is splattered with various shapes and colors, turning it into a work of art.

For more than 12 years, Chelsea Weiss, 20, art major, has taken her skills in art as more than just a hobby.

While she may have practiced her artistic skills as a child, she did not always consider taking on a career in art.

“I really didn’t start out with it being something I wanted to do for the rest of my life until senior year of high school (five years ago),” Weiss said.

For now, Weiss said she just wants to graduate from college. After graduating, she plans to work toward a career in art with a major animation company like Pixar or Disney.

“I will settle for Dreamworks, but my dream is to join Pixar,” Weiss said.

Fellow student and friend Greg Bell, 22, art major, said that her dedication is impressive.

“She (Weiss) is a hard worker. She is taking full courses as well as a part-time job,” Bell said. “She has full dedication to the field.”

Aside from going to college, Weiss is a freelance muralist at an elementary school (Point Vicente Elementary) as well as a weekend receptionist at the Palos Verdes Art Center.

An example of her artwork includes a painting of Vishnu, a Hindu god of wealth, who she painted with the face of Brad Pitt.

“I was trying to add the public persona and mixing it with idol worship,” Weiss said. “I am not trying to knock down anyone’s religion.”

As far as her technique goes, Weiss said she likes to fully immerse herself in her medium, going so far as to use her whole body to paint.

“I use paintbrushes to get into detail, I also use my fingers to blend in the colors,” Weiss said. “I have also used my elbow to the back of my arm.”

When further describing her work, she said she often uses colors such as red and orange.

“Paintings are like mood rings where you use bright, warm colors to express happiness and positivity whereas colors like green, blue and black tend to be moody,” Weiss said.

The idea that colors express emotions was influenced by her grandmother.

“My grandmother allowed us (her family) to be creative,” she said. “She was always supportive and always loved my artwork.”

While her grandmother may be a source of inspiration and support, Weiss said she was inspired by her family in general.

“My family has always supported me,” Weiss said. “That is how I got to where I am today.”

Aside from being influenced and supported by a family of artists, her other sources of influence include Salvador Dali and Frida Kahlo.

According to one of her art professors, Weiss is not only positive and enthusiastic in her art work, but as a student as well.

“She (Weiss) is very interested in learning,” Harrison Storms, art professor, said. “She is very open to critiques in her work and she listens.”

Considering her own style in creating her artwork, Weiss said she thinks outside of the box and tends to follow her emotions like she learned from her grandmother.

“If it weren’t for my grandmother, I wouldn’t have become an artist,” Weiss said.