2022 Senior Series: Chloe McLean

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“Entering college, I wanted schooling to transform me into a great representational portrait painter. This has been a serious goal of mine since the first time I used oil paints my junior year of high school. After applying to art schools, I spent my freshman year at Parsons. However, I transferred to UMass looking for a smaller program that provided more support and more personal relationships with professors. Now, after my three years at UMass, I feel that I can use the technical and creative skills that I have learned to express myself beyond portrait painting.

Professor Young Min Moon [chair of the arts department] has made my UMass experience better than I could have imagined. He is the best. He's been a mentor and I've learned so much from him about how to become a better painter and person. He never fails to provide thoughtful guidance during every class and critique. He also just gives the best life advice and genuinely cares about each student — checking in and making sure that we are all doing OK during difficult times. I'm so fortunate that I transferred and was able to learn from him.

Outside of art, the first activity I got into on campus was the outing club (UMOC). I instantly became so involved. It was a great way to make friends [as a transfer student]. They took me on the coolest trips. I went caving sophomore year! When they said caving, I assumed we were just going to be walking into a cave, not descending into one on a rope! When I realized what I'd actually signed up for, I thought, 'Oh, my God, I'm claustrophobic,' but at that point I figured, 'Well, we drove all this way!' It was so fun: half-terror and half-exhilaration! It was also one of my favorite experiences in my three years at UMass because where else am I going to do that?

As for what's next, I will continue to paint to build a portfolio for graduate school. I also love movies and I want to go explore more — possibly try getting a job in the TV industry to get started!"

Chloe McLean '22 is a senior in the Department of Art specializing in painting. She creates large-scale oil on canvas works that highlight the human spirit and have mass appeal. McLean has a strong work ethic and a passion for art and film — her latest exhibit, Today Tomorrow, is on view at Herter Gallery through the end of the semester.