Senior Caleb Black often draws attention because of his constant doodling and animated personality, so it came as no surprise to many friends early in high school when he first expressed interest in attending art school. Since then, he has applied to art programs nationwide, including Rhode Island School of Design and University of Southern California, where he hopes to receive a B.F.A. in animation.

“It’s a lot harder than applying to a regular school because on top of essays and filling out the application, you have to worry about the [art] portfolio and make sure it’s good for whatever school you’re trying to get into,” Black said.

His art portfolio takes many hours to refine, and a panel of judges at each school must approve his work before he is accepted.

“I think the portfolio he comes up with will be plenty diverse and it will be the kind of thing an art school will be looking for from an incoming student,” Spectra teacher Jon Travis said.

Black has been interested in art since kindergarten, but has never taken an art class because he prefers to work on his own creations. Cartoonists such as Gary Larson, Bill Watterson and Genndy Tartakovsky, known for “The Far Side,” “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Dexter’s Laboratory” respectively, have inspired his cartoon style of drawing.

“I enjoy seeing it any time he has a piece for me to see,” Raster said. “It’s pretty neat to look at.”

After college, Black hopes to animate for Cartoon Network, which he says offers animators the most room for creativity.

“I want to tell stories and I want to let people enjoy themselves, and the best way for me to do that is through animation,” Black said.