Art is a way for students to express themselves and show their personalities and perspectives through their art. It is a form of self expression and a method to replicate the human experience with pencils and multitudes of colored pencils, paints, watercolors, crayons, etc. Students at Hamburg Area High School who take art class prefer to express themselves through pictures and to replicate how they feel on the inside without exactly saying it, or they just want to create creative pieces of characters and tell a story and share an experience.
Oakley Bogardus, a sophomore, enjoys creating art often and joined art class for many reasons, but especially for one. “I have been drawing since I was very young. I am currently trying to improve my anatomy and shading skills so my art can improve and get better overtime.” Oakley enjoys the class and how everything is at her own pace, and shares that “Mrs. Dommel is really nice. She helps with giving constructive feedback of what I should approve on, and her criticism is easy to adapt to and evolve from.” Oakley, though, was confused at first because the high school art classes are not what she was used to. “I was used to middle school and how they would teach us together as a class at the board. Usually they would teach us other forms of art after a few days on one subject. In high school, she gives a subject to draw about and you try to think of something that would fit and you draw it independently.” Oakley says it is more of a class to build off personal skills rather than be taught more skills, but prefers it that way. “I would recommend this class if you’re looking to do art independently and trying to improve skills on your own. The environment is also quiet, and it is a very peaceful class to get your art work done before it is due.”
Jordan Cunkle, another sophomore, also enjoys art class and really likes the pace of the class. “We can do different projects and we do not have to do anything in order. Mrs. Dommel also never rushes us. She is always super helpful, supportive and super nice, too.” Jordan has always liked art since they were young, and figured that art would help calm them down during a hectic school day. In art, Jordan has made many amazing creations: “I have made stuff out of clay like bowls, and right now I am working on diamond art, and I have been thinking of creating a painting. That shows the amount of freedom and activities you can do in one period!” Jordan would definitely recommend art class to any student, depending on if it is drawing, painting, ceramics and 3d. “Art is something that can be a peaceful activity and it can get rid of all the stress you have during the day.”
Art is for everyone, not just for super talented people. It is an opportunity for people to get out there and create something extraordinary and build off their beginner skills and work them up and learn what looks right and what looks weird in an art piece. No one should ever feel discouraged creating amazing art!
