Profile: Using quiet to create

Daniel draws in his free time to take his mind off of school and other things. Foto von Maximillian

At first glance, one would doubt that the boy could be so expressive. He presents himself little; seems reserved; and he doesn't take what others do and say personally - he listens a lot and reveals little. Somehow a mature look. But quiet. However, Daniel Savov finds loud ways of expressing himself in art.

The 9th grader may be quiet in class, but when he's outside or at home with his friends, he's very open and talkative.

"He's sometimes more active, sometimes passive, always different... sometimes wild... and comes out of his shell a lot, when we're outside of school," said Jannis Nolting, Savov's best friend.

When you talk to Daniel for the first time, you realize he's a bit reserved, but when you're in contact with him for longer, he becomes increasingly open.

Daniel is always very focused (at least wants to be) and manages his school subjects. Perhaps it comes from drawing. Drawing keeps him "very deep in focus", Savov says.

Poker face is not his only talent. In fact, he's far more expressive than people give him credit for, not just when with friends. Daniel is a free-style drawer.

He got into drawing when he spent a night drawing pictures of Naruto from his monitor with his cousin. Because it was fun for him, he used the monitor as a reference for a while.

Then he once tried to draw a character from his head and realized that he really enjoyed drawing in general, and that he was quite good at it.

He already drew pictures in kindergarten, but Daniel really started in 6th grade. Mangas inspired his.

Drawing makes him feel focused, relaxed and calm, he said. With practice, he has become better and better.

Daniel doesn't care where he draws or what he draws, but he finds it difficult to put his thoughts on paper sometimes. He likes to draw at home and in class - "time passes much faster there."

 "I like to draw everything except abstract art", he said.

He once applied for a scholarship that his teacher told him about it, but he was turned down. He wanted to gain experience, but it didn't bother him much that he was turned down.

Applying for a scholarship a second time is out of the question for him though, because he doesn't want to do it. He’s reluctant to pursue his passion for drawing as a career and prefers to train as an architect.

For now, he will continue to draw alone and draw from his own inspiration.