A Closer Look - Season 1 (Amber Nesbit)
Being a twin is a blessing, but it can also be difficult. USC Aiken senior cheerleader Amber Nesbit can attest to it.
“Everyone always tried to compare Sharhonda and I growing up,” Nesbit said. “Who is the better dancer? Who has better grades? It was constant when people would meet us. They would instantly compare the two of us.”
Amber and Sharhonda had a lot in common, just like a lot of twins. That was evident with from early on. The two played the same sports and a lot of other activities that were the same.
In fifth grade, Sharhonda showed her passion for writing. She would write mystery books and chapter books.
“I did not like to write, so Sharhoonda would always be the best daughter for that in the family,” Amber stated.
However, Amber did help out with the mystery and chapter books by illustrating the book and by drawing a front cover for each piece that was written.
“My drawings grew from that point forward,” Amber said. “My drawings got more detailed and improved over the years.”
During her sophomore year at Airport H.S., Amber started drawing a lot more. A member of the drama club, she did a lot of the backdrops for the plays and musicals, including the biggest of them all – Aladdin. Amber not only was the lead character in Princess Jasmine, but she also created both backdrops for the play.
At Airport H.S., Amber’s art teacher asked her to draw a picture and she responded by creating a piece that was a self-portrait pictured from the neck to knees in a red dress. The piece ended up in a museum for a few months before being sent to the Lexington Medical Center where it adorned the wall due to the Red Dress Society, which signifies women fighting against heart disease. Ironically, neither the teacher nor Amber knew the picture was at the medical facility until the teacher stumbled across it while visiting a patient.
Amber enrolled in AP art during her final two years at Airport H.S. During her senior year, Amber concentration on her portfolio was music based. She featured drawings that were reminiscent of the Roaring 20’s and the Jazz Age of music. In all, parts of her collection of work for the portfolio took upwards of 12 months to complete.
Amber’s work was so good that Princeton offered her a partial scholarship. However, she decided to enroll at USC Aiken where she could not only work on something so passionate to her for fun, but where she could also be a part of the cheerleading team.
“I actually do a lot of artwork now,” Amber said. “I do more than I thought I would. When I first started drawing, I sold some of my artwork and I still do that today to help pay for school.”
A lot of what people ask her to draw are canvases with people’s monograms on it, but recently she drew a beach scene for a young girl. Her drawings take a while due to the finite details in each and every piece.
Her favorite piece, which is not for sale, was a mixed media masterpiece that encompassed magazine paper with glue, color pencil build-up and shoe polish. The piece was a red guitar leaning against a table with a flower vase.
“I’ve been offered nearly $400 for it, but I can’t allow it to be purchased,” Amber said. “It is my favorite piece – and I did it during my senior year at Airport H.S.”
One piece that she plans on finishing prior to graduating will be a good-sized mural that will most likely be a 4x6’ canvas.
“I have had a vision for the piece since my senior year of high school,” Amber said. “It features the last book in the Bible, Revelations. It is a scary book and there are so many pieces in my head that are very graphic and scary, but I can’t stop thinking about it. The piece will come out sooner or later, but I want it to be done by the time I graduate.”
An outstanding cheerleader, a well-rounded student and an accomplished artist. With so many great talents one can only wonder, what aspects of her collegiate career and life would Amber put on a campus when telling the story of her life?
