PHOTO BY OF K. VAZQUEZ

Originally published January 24, 2023

Students at MBMS have a wild, powerful imagination. Some of these students have used it on their artistic side to make paintings and drawings and share them in the art club. Some of the art club students enjoy being able to focus on art, while others enjoy viewing everyone's art.

“You don't have to see your face or anything, so it's like you just post art and it's like, all good. It's awesome.” eighth-grader Kamren Vazquez said.

Some of the other members enjoy the welcoming environment.

“I enjoy making art and getting comments. I also like looking at other people's art. Especially if it's related to a video game I like,” sixth-grader Val Sheppard said.

The artists also enjoy being able to see how each person expresses themselves.

“Sharing, that we just get to see everyone's art and we get to see everyone's different creative styles and how I think you can really see a person's character behind their art and just interesting to see so much variety.” seventh-grader Gerard Ittner said.

Art club also helps the club members to learn to share their ideas.

“Art can be a really like, solitary experience, you know, the traditional idea of an artist is like a dark person like all by themselves, like drawing and not socializing.” art teacher Mrs. Wells said. “But to be a successful artist, you have to network and you have to make connections. Because that's, that's part of the gig.”

Art can help students improve many different necessary life skills.

“[Art] helps with creativity and so it can be for other things,” Sheppard said.

Learning to be a creative problem solver can be beneficial to every student.

“It's an outlet for communication, for ideas, for creativity. I think the creative part is something that you can take with you to any other subject, any job out there.” Wells said. “I think it's so important for people to be creative thinkers. I think those are the people who move our society forward.”

Since each student can receive individual tips, they can all improve their art skills and help other students get better.

“Take inspiration from any of your favorite painters. If you see something you like, try to incorporate that into your style and you're just going to like your art more.” Ittner said.

Each artist in the club has their own experiences and ways they have improved.

“Perspective and anatomy those are the biggest things that I would work on and still am,” Vazquez said.

Each student can improve themselves through art club in art and life skills.

“I love that I was able to get students together who may not get art class when they want, and they get to share their ideas and share their talents with like-minded individuals and get feedback from one another; because I think that's super important," Wells said. "And it gives people a chance to have a platform for their work and show their work and share their work when they wouldn't necessarily get to do that otherwise,” Wells said.