Ximena Angeles-Angeles--- Eagle Staff Writer
Many students have probably wanted to take an art class but they think that they have to know art to be in the class. The good news is, you don’t! Lori Law, art teacher at FCHS stated, “I would encourage people to give it a try. There are many ways to experience art. If you do your research you are bound to find one that suits you.”
FCHS offers a number of art classes at different levels. There's Art-2D (Two-Dimensional) and Art- 3D (Three-Dimensional). Both classes are offered as Level 1 and 2. Whichever class students might take, art student Ella Newbill emphasized, “No, art talent is not required for art classes. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t useful to have; it just isn’t necessary.”
People may explore art as a hobby while for others it's a passion. Law falls into the second category, stating, “I have always enjoyed and felt confident creating art. When making the decision to go to college after high school, I realized that a career involving art would make me the happiest.”
Law found a profession in teaching art. “I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Art from Radford University and later finished a teaching degree from Lynchburg College. Both of these degrees allowed me to teach art from grades Pre-K-12.”
Many may think that art is just a fun class where students spend their time coloring and painting, but a closer look reveals a lot of challenges and growth. Law said, “ The ups and downs of art revolve around the process of creating. You have to challenge yourself to grow and learn new things [but] learning something new can involve frustration. Perseverance is necessary to see the processes through and the end result can be so rewarding when you know that you kept at it.”
Newbill described her own artistic ups and downs. “Some ups of art class are that you are not only taught to use different media but you are also taught to use the elements of art and the principles of art. Some downs include not understanding the objectives given to you, sometimes being restricted in what you can do and use, and getting frustrated when you can’t figure out how to achieve one of your tasks with what you are given or choose.”
Moreover, art isn't just for fun, as Newbill explains. "Art can sometimes teach us things. For instance lots of art pieces from ancient times are used to learn about history. Some art is used for political reasons. Also art can simply just be an expression of emotion. Art is capable of teaching, persuasion, and simply entertainment.”
Law believes art also provides a wealth of benefits in the future. “Art is a creative process where people learn how to plan for an outcome and improvise when the plan doesn’t go a certain way. Art cultivates learning skills and fosters creativity, boosts students' academic achievement, enhances the educational experiences, and strengthens critical thinking. Art builds fine motor skills and neural connections. Art improves communication and builds community.”
Newbill and Law both agree that art is so much more than just drawing and painting, with a lot to offer everyone in today's world. Like Law said, “Art is meant to be a means for communication which is so important in our society. A good number of people think it is just for recreation. Without art we are limited in how much we know about people, history and all parts of our world.”
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