Art As Expression For Santa Margarita Student

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — Santa Margarita High School student Molly Roberts was 14-years-old when she picked up her graphite pencil and transferred her heart into her sketchbook. With the instruction of a trusted teacher and art as her method of expressing herself since she could hold a crayon, Molly gathered her feelings and drew "Jesus of Suburbia," a portrait of Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, which was lauded across Orange County's social media threads this week.

While creating this work, Molly listened to Green Day's "American Idiot" album, specifically the song "Jesus of Suburbia."

Her art has become her therapy, according to both Molly and her mother, Jody Roberts. Sometimes she draws in photo-realism, other times in creative expressionism, but Molly's artwork is always faithful to her soul and a way of embracing and expressing who she is, what she is feeling and to understand depression in all of its forms.

Teenage depression is a reality for many, and for Molly, that depression is a constant, she told us.

Some days are better than others, but Molly is coping with the ins and outs of teenage depression and using her artwork to do it.

Helping your child understand and cope with the ups and downs of life, and the depths of depression can be one of the most challenging parenting problems, Jody explained.

As a mother, she considers herself blessed to be able to support her daughter's love of art and visual expressions that come from deep within.

"Molly not only draws but writes a great deal," Jody said, and though art and writing are Molly's coping mechanisms, each person has a different journey.

"You have to find which road best suits the person," Jody said. For Molly, the drawing of Billie Joe Armstrong is titled "Jesus of Suburbia" was a turning point. Molly began her work after being moved by the Green Day song. She began to transfer her depression into tangible form, through sketching the portrait.

"She was going through an intense and dark period of depression at that time," mother Jody Roberts told Patch. According to Molly, she found recognition and empathy in the music of Green Day.

"Listening and relating to the powerful messages in song allowed me to reflect on my mental state" in a way that was more focused.

Molly picked up her pencil and worked the lines and angles while listening to the song over and again.

"For this piece, I worked methodically, creating the grid system so that the proportions would remain true to the photo I worked from," Molly told Patch.

From that rendering, she has continued to find her unique style. Other pieces she has worked on include a look at Science Fiction writer Ray Bradbury and another drawing where she attempted to translate the literary work "Fahrenheit 451" into a visual representation. She created the graphite and colored pencil image represents intellect for Molly.

"That novel allowed me to broaden my mind, expand my ideals and further my knowledge of writing, itself," Molly told Patch. She filled the drawing with symbolism and messages she found within the pages of the novel. "I'm proud to have accomplished something that means so much to me," she said.

Molly's instruction with Andrea Mosely helped shape her art. Mosely studied in Florence in the style of the old masters, lessons she has absorbed into her growing talent. By no means finished grooming her talent, Molly realizes that she has a long way still to go with her art.

"I'm working on developing my specific style, and working as an artist through smaller projects," she said.

Meanwhile, her parents stand back and watch their daughter create, as Molly's cheering section and support structure.

"I'm in awe of Molly's talent," Jody told us. "She truly amazed me, and it is hard to describe the feeling of watching your child excel and blossom through creative expression. "My husband and I couldn't be more proud of our daughter, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for her."

Photos, courtesy Molly and Jody Roberts