November 18, 2013 Imperial Beach, CA
12 year old Ily Alfred is getting ready for an art exhibition at the Chula Vista Superior Court House in Chula Vista, CA. SHe is no stranger to exhibiting her art as she has pieces at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center and her work can be seen on the walls of Bibbey's Shell Shop in Imperial Beach.
Ily has her own section of the murals that appear at Bibbey's. No one else is allowed to work that space as she has made it her own artistic area. It is located between the two front doors and has the Penguins of Madagascar, a Palm tree that looks like Elvis and a pelican flying through the scene.
Being 12 does not prevent Ms. Alfred from earning money with her talent. This summer she worked on her own business throughout the San Diego area as a professional face painter. Her earnings were a bit over $500.00 and she continues to work throughout the school year.
Her art instructors work with her closely as she is definitely an art prodigy. The ease at which she works makes art look like an easy job, yet most adult artists cannot match her speed and ability to produce art like she is able.
This year at the fair she brought home five blue ribbons adding to her already numerous awards for her work. Competing with artists older than her at her middle school she won the art contest for creating the cover of their year book.
The director of the program she is in is arranging for her to work with Court Jones a well know world class artist who teaches at the Watts Attlier and is a professional portrait and caricature artist. Ily has been a member of, "The Art Kids of San Diego County," for almost three years now and is going to be one of the top artists in in the San Diego area. One can hire her for face painting through The Art Kids at (619)271-1450. All the money she earns goes to her and no one else.
