Some nine-year-olds spend their downtime playing games and spending time with their friends. Other nine-year-olds do that and become internationally renowned artists. Aria Luna is that kind of kid. And not only is she a successful artist before she enters the double digits, but she's also an environmentalist who fights for things like ocean pollution.
Though she's an artist known around the world for her art, she's still a pretty typical kid. According to her website, she "loves to rollerblade, scooter, play Roblox (among various other games), and, to her parents’ unending consternation, stay up way past her bedtime." She also has a kind heart; she "saved untold bees from swimming pools, and raised a bird from egg to flight."
Aria has three main art exhibits: Sea Lions, Fusion Tide, and Dragon Storm. She took the characters from Fusion Tide and created a coloring book. The coloring book, which you can download for free here, was made to help kids stay entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aria Luna's coloring book features the main character Bogo Mogo, who is the "ocean’s worst nightmare." "Spawned in the swirling Great Pacific Garbage Patch, he feeds on plastic and turns marine creatures into plasticized zombies with his poisonous tentacles." Additionally, there are four "Guardians of the Sea" who team up to defeat Bogo Mogo.
The best thing is that the coloring book isn't just purely entertaining, though that would be enough. But there's also an activity book that helps talk to kids about the dangers of plastic pollution. Kids have to try to defeat Bogo Mogo by learning more about how plastic is a danger to our future.
Moms.com was able to talk to Aria Luna via email about what she loves about art and why conservation is important to her. Read our exchange below.
Moms.com: What is your favorite thing about art?
Aria Luna: I love to create. I can’t live without drawing or painting. I have a huge imagination and I love to make it come to life.
MC: How do you feel empowered by art? How do you think art empowers other kids?
AL: Art makes me feel good and it makes me feel calm. I get inspired by all kinds of things. I did some online art workshops for other kids my age in the spring and it was amazing to see how inspired and excited they got. That was really nice.
MC: How did you get into art?
AL: I just started doing it naturally. My grandmother is a really good artist so probably I have it from her! The first thing I drew was two octopuses when I was around 2. I haven’t stopped since! I just love art.
MC: How did you get involved in your conservation work?
AL: My mom spent a lot of time working in sustainability and environmental issues. She taught me the power of art and stories in our community and our world. I want the oceans to be safe and healthy because they’re super important to our planet. I love nature and want to make sure I can play my part in raising awareness about how important it is for everyone.
MC: Why do you think it's important for kids to be involved in conservation work?
AL: Because they’re the ones who are growing up in this world. It’s their future so it’s really important for them to take part in saving the planet.
MC: You seem to create a lot of sea art. What are your favorite sea creatures?
AL: Sea dragons :). Also, I love manta rays, sea turtles, and whales.
MC: What have you been doing a lot of since COVID-19 started?
AL: I’ve been doing a lot of animations actually. It’s really fun but takes a LOT of work. I’m working on an exhibit and illustrating a book about the Fusion Tide story. Oh and I also did many chalk dragons in a parking lot close to my house, and people started commenting on them. One girl started leaving messages for me, we would chalk-message back and forth and one day we actually met in the parking lot and drew chalk art together! (with our masks and 6 ft apart) So I made a new friend that way. That would never happen if we didn’t have the quarantine, so that was like a special thing.