Jamming to her “daydream” playlist, Sasha Cocquyt ’24 unboxed her new chisel tip markers and set to work one recent April morning. Five hours, 10 hand-drawn cups, and 18 employees’ uniquely lettered names later, she stepped back from her final product: a three-by-10 foot mural at local boba shop Urban Ritual.
The project was her first paid commission, which she reflected on as a meaningful opportunity and milestone in her portfolio as an artist.
“I always thought that my art would be something very personal. To have my work valued that much was just really special to me,” Cocquyt said.
However, Cocquyt was no stranger to contributing her artistic talent to her local communities. At Nueva, her artwork is bountiful on the walls, publications, and social media platforms.
For Cocquyt and Nueva, it has been a two-way-street: she has volunteered her artistry to the school and in turn the school has supported her in accessing materials, finding new opportunities, and building connections over the past four years of her time as an Upper School student.
Outside of school, Cocquyt pursues lettering for more personal projects. Her first foray into calligraphy occurred during the pandemic, when she remedied her boredom by following YouTube tutorials on bullet journaling, a form of artistic journaling with dots instead of lines on the pages.
The learning curve for lettering and calligraphy was steep. Cocquyt studied techniques such as maintaining her pen’s angle, emphasizing certain strokes, and adding shadows for emphasis. “It’s not until after you master those skills that you can start adding a personal flare,” she said.
Once Cocquyt began to craft hand-lettered greeting cards for friends and family, she realized how many people appreciated the art of calligraphy.
“Community members love to see the things that matter to them portrayed in color and with an artistic flare. It shows that someone cares and is willing to put in lots of time and effort to share that,” she said.
Cocquyt then began to translate her skills and talent to the Upper School campus. As a member of Nueva’s Discussion and Talks About Science club (DATAS), Cocquyt is the primary artist of chalkboards advertising the club’s signature Science Fridays. Her ever-rotating sandwich boards are a hallway fixture that students admire as they pass, defined by their loopy cursive, vibrant colors, or charming drawings.
Additionally, Cocquyt has contributed her time and artistry to the “Bundle of Life” installation in front of the Writing and Research Center (WRC), which highlights the interconnectedness of faculty at Nueva; a project for Director of Teaching & Learning Lauren Pool on learning at Nueva; and branded stickers for Nueva’s strategic framework.
As such, Cocquyt’s contributions to Nueva and its surrounding are just one of the legacies she’ll leave behind after she graduates. While her artistic focus on calligraphy is personal, she also realizes the impacts of it on others.
“My time at Nueva has made me realize that I find joy and fulfillment in bringing people together simply by doing what I love,” she said.
Cocquyt plans to continue her hand lettering beyond high school. This summer, she hopes to find a job at Trader Joes—where all chalk artists are also employees—and potentially pursue more commissions. Enrolling in the fall at Princeton University, she hopes to support student groups with her artwork.
For now, though, Cocquyt is working to find a new artist for Nueva’s own Science Friday chalkboards next year, and she is welcoming to less experienced calligraphers.
“It does take practice. But start small and just doodle. I’m hoping that more people get into this kind of art here,” she said.
