For Leland Hodgkins, the body serves as a canvas in more ways than one. Hodgkins, a junior, draws parallels between his interests as an artist and his medical ambitions.
"Being able to create a beautiful piece of art is what gives me inspiration that someday I might be a good surgeon," Hodgkins said.
Hodgkins' concentration is the area of ultra-realism, a modern art form that demands intricate design. He describes his work as mainly small-format and high-detail. Hodgkins emphasizes the importance of his hands as both an artist and surgeon.
The New Jersey native has explored an impressive array of artistic avenues, including graffiti, cartoons, figure drawing and tattoos. One of his most unique projects was a temporary tattoo across the arms and chest of a friend-a design that took over seven hours to complete.
Hodgkins' mother, also an artist, first taught him how to paint. Once he reached high school, he started constructing a serious portfolio while taking a master's class in figure drawing at a local college. During his AP art class, Hodgkins concentrated on urban art, and was invited to paint three walls at his school. He has since taken two drawing classes at Duke and has work on display in a number of local galleries in New Jersey.
Although he was originally a visual arts major, Hodgkins is now pre-med, majoring in economics and biology with a minor in visual arts. He describes his art as mostly recreational.
"I just get a huge kick out of it. I enjoy it and I love people's reactions to it," he said. "It's a great way to clear my head."
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