Many believe art is a skill that is not as useful as math and science, yet others feel oppositely, as it may be their only way to express themselves in a school setting. The artistically inclined have a big community at SCHS, but participation seems to dwindle after taking the baseline art class – Intro to Art.
There are many students who are passionate about art and find themselves taking multiple years in their high school career. After Intro to Art, students are given an option to level up to a variety of different art classes, including ceramics, painting, AP Drawing and AP Studio 3D.
Junior Amaya Estevez is currently taking AP Drawing and feels it is a needed creative outlet in her sometimes hectic life.
“It (AP Drawing) helps your creativity. You can expand and do whatever you want, and it’s a peaceful time, where school is always hectic,” Estevez said. “You have that one class where you can sit down and just do something that isn’t school work.”
Many students feel supported in the art community at SCHS, especially because of their teachers. Art teachers like Neil Woodman and Jason Fery, students say, help shape students’ artistic careers and adapt to the school’s changing curriculum to ensure students are getting their best art experience.
“I try to encourage them to expand and experiment and be a scientist, if you will, and see what works for you and what doesn’t,” Fery said.
Staff and students believe that art is an important part of life, including junior Brooke Knight, who believes art will have a hand in her future career.
“I definitely think that art will carry its way out in the future. Art is just kind of those head-clearing things you can use, whether you use it to make you happy, or you use it as a creative outlet,” Knight said. “I think it’s one of those things that you can utilize in many different ways.”
While there are students who believe they will have a career in art, others are unsure. In his highschool days, art teacher Fery had a natural artistic ability, but a negative message would discourage him from further pursuing it.
“Everyone would tell me even though I liked art, once I started falling in love with art, they were like, ‘You should find something that’s going to be more reliable, something that can pay the bills,’” Fery said.
While Fery believes this message is simply not true, some art students look at art as more of an escape rather than a career. Junior Sarah Brady believes that the sense of self-expression she receives from her art class is priceless.
“I don’t know if I will pursue art in my future career, but I strongly believe that I will continue to seek it out as a means of self-expression and individuality no matter my stage in life,” Brady said.
Many art students applaud their art teacher for teaching them the importance of experimentation and enjoying the journey that many feel art is.
“I try to expand and expand their creativity because they should be learning more and more, and they should be able to be more confident doing work,” Woodman said.
Fery and Woodman say art is everywhere and has endless possibilities, which they try to show through their encouraging curriculum.
“It’s more about giving them (art students) an opportunity to explore creativity. I try to show them that art is everywhere. It can just be about anything,” Fery said.
Students feel art classes help them unleash their creativity and help them take their next steps in their art journey. Art feels freeing to many students, and that feeling can be carried through their futures as something enjoyable and liberating. Brady believes AP Drawing and AP 3D has helped her display her passions.
“Art is an essential part of who I am, and I have gotten so much from being able to express myself through art classes at SCHS,” Brady said. “I hope everyone is able to find as much enjoyment and fulfillment as I do from the arts.”