WKU News

For Chloe Drugeot, art has never been just a hobby, it has been a constant presence throughout her entire life.

“Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” said Drugeot, a Visual Studies major with a concentration in Art Education and a certification in Graphic Design. “There are old home videos of me at four years old painting and making collages, and looking back, it feels like that creative side of me was always there.”

That lifelong connection and passion for creativity led her to one of WKU’s art programs.

“I could never really imagine myself choosing a different path,” Drugeot said. “By early high school, I knew I wanted to major in art, and I was so excited when I found out that Western Kentucky University had such a great art program while still being close to home. In a lot of ways, pursuing art felt like the most natural choice I could make.”

Now as she wraps up her final class at WKU, Drugeot has developed a body of work that reflects both technical skill and personal growth.

“My artistic style blends figurative realism with abstraction to explore memory, emotion and the tension between control and intuition,” she said. “I approach my work by feeling my way through it, sometimes with a plan or no plan at all.”

She usually begins her creative process with something she finds meaningful. 

“I’m inspired by subjects that feel personal or emotionally charged such as memories, people, places and moments that stick with me,” Drugeot said.

Like many artists, she has learned that creativity is rarely a straightforward process. Instead, she embraces the uncertainty that comes with creating something meaningful.

“My process usually starts with a loose idea, but I really figure the work out while I’m making it,” she said. “There is almost always a point where I feel frustrated and unsure if the piece is working, but I’ve learned that this stage is part of how I get to the best version of the work.”

One experience that significantly influenced her artistic perspective was a recent trip to London with her family.

“I visited the National Gallery, and seeing paintings I have admired for years in person felt surreal,” she said. “Being able to see the scale, texture, brushwork and small details up close reminded me how different artwork feels beyond a screen or textbook.”

Drugeot was also inspired by the architecture.

“The precision and detail in the buildings made me think more carefully about structure and visual choices in my own work,” she said.

The work Drugeot has created in her Senior Painting class this summer reflects many of the ideas explored throughout her time at WKU.

“The larger pieces I am currently working on are very personal to me,” Drugeot said. “They are about realizing how precious time is and how every moment is fleeting.”

“As my time at Western comes to a close, I have been reflecting on what it means to let go, not only of this place that has shaped me so deeply, but also of the pressure I put on myself to perfect my art,” she said.

Drugeot credits much of her growth to University Distinguished Professor and Painting Professor Yvonne Petkus and Art and Design Instructor Greg Strange.

“Yvonne, my painting professor, has been especially important to me because she has helped me grow not only as an artist, but also in the way I understand my own creative process,” Drugeot said. “Her guidance and encouragement have pushed me to trust myself more in the studio and to see painting as something deeply personal and evolving.”

Petkus said Drugeot's dedication to her artwork has been evident throughout the summer.

“Chloe is a thoughtful and focused, poetic painter and emerging arts educator who fully dove into this summer-intensive painting course, exploring, examining critically, and deepening the ingredients that make up her ongoing studio practice,” Petkus said. “I feel so fortunate to have had this time to work one-on-one with Chloe for her final, upper-level studio course, and excited for all I know she will bring to and ask of her future students.”

This summer, Drugeot spent long hours in the studio as part of her Senior Painting class.

“My favorite part of being in the Senior Painting class this summer has been having time fully designated to painting as I finish my time at WKU,” she said. “Since this is one of my last experiences at Western, having this time to paint, reflect and grow feels very sentimental and special to me.”

As she prepares for graduation, Drugeot hopes her artwork leaves a lasting impact on those who encounter it.

“I hope people feel inspired when they see my artwork,” she said. “More than anything, I want my work to encourage others to connect with their own creativity, emotions and personal experiences.”

After graduating from WKU, Drugeot plans to become an art teacher, helping future generations discover their own creative potential.