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Artist of the Week
Lex Dismuke, 12th Grade
Art 3
The Creature
The project entailed recreating a famous 2d artwork/ painting with texture. To create this texture we all used cardboard cut with exacto knives and attached it with glue. Different techniques were used to cut said cardboard too. I sliced it to create the illusion of different shades. I layered the cardboard to create different forms and distinguish the background, middle grounds, and foreground. I took off layers of the cardboard and/or crinkled it to make a shading effect and show the spread of different textures/objects throughout. I also spiraled the same thin layers to show thinner objects like chords.
Photograph of Lex Dismuke's Piece
Past Weekly Artists
Past Weekly Artists
Adrian Sanchez
Class: Art 4
Art 4’s first project was based on value. As higher level art students, they are not given themes or specific guidelines to follow for their artwork. This makes their creations that more personal, Adrian Sanchez is a talented artist taking Art 4 this semester. His piece is created with charcoal and has a deep meaning behind it.
Sanchez said, “I wanted to make a piece that represented how physical affection makes people human.”
We asked, “What was the process”
“It started off with a sketch and used charcoal powder to darken the background. I didn't use any charcoal on the hands to make them a focal point.”
“How do you feel it turned out”
“I feel like it turned out decent, I wish the hands were just plain white as some charcoal got on them by accident.”
Charles Herris
Class: Art 3
Art 1’s first project was on recreating half a portrait to practice realism and proportions. Charles Herris chose to create the other half of Burger King’s now retired mascot “The King”. Here's some insight on the artwork.
We asked, “What was your intention?”
Herris answered,“I thought it would be funny to draw the burger king guy, the photo had good highlights. I also thought it would be difficult and it was a challenge to create.”
“What was the process?”
“I started by defining the features first and I didnt really outline the head. I started with the eye and worked my way out which helped me keep everything in proportion.”
“How do you feel it turned out?”
“I think it turned out wonderful, I got a 100! However the proportions were a little off in some spots like with the nose and eyes”
Aliana Dugas
Grade: 11th
Class: Ceramics 1
Art: Pinch Pot Turtle
Artist Statement:
"I made a pinch pot turtle for my ceramics 1 class, I think turtles are cute so I decided to make one and also as instructed to make one. I made my turtle cute because I find them adorable and I've fed and saved wild ones before and they are really sweet."
NEW: Learn how Jean-Michel Basquiat Became one of America's most Famous Artists!
Fountain Inn Art News
Beyond The Brushstrokes: How Art Mirrors Human Emotion
Beyond The Brushstrokes: How Art Mirrors Human Emotion
By Savannah Sousa
“The Expression or appreciation of human creativity, skill and imagination, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
Art is a way to express yourself and your emotions, all wrapped up on one canvas.
“I feel like it's a way to express yourself, you know, how everybody has something they're passionate about. It's something to be passionate about,” said Bri Strickland.
Bri Strickland is a 12th grader in art three honors.
Art has a unique power to unlock emotions that students didn't even know they had. A single brushstroke or musical note can trigger memories, fears, or dreams buried deep inside. Many students find themselves crying, laughing, or feeling angry while creating, often surprising themselves with the intensity. The creative process becomes a safe space to explore feelings that might be too difficult to express in words. Through art, students learn to channel their emotions into something beautiful and meaningful.
The emotional power of art not only moves audiences but also creates valuable opportunities for the artists behind the work.
Strickland said some other rewarding parts of art are entering the flow state, emotional catharsis and release, self-discovery, identity, and expansion of perception.
“The most rewarding part of making art is getting into honors classes because the more art you do, the higher you get up,” said Strickland.
While art evokes powerful emotions in viewers, students discover that creating it teaches equally valuable lessons about patience, problem-solving, and self-expression. You learn, like all the different elements and principles of art.
“Like, there's lion shape, coloring, value, and more,” Strickland said.
Art transforms students by unleashing their creativity and innovation, sharpening critical thinking skills, providing powerful emotional outlets, and building deep cultural understanding and empathy.
“My favorite kind of art style that I learned is black and white,” Strickland said. “I like the way it looks, and it's really fun to shade, and it adds value and makes it more realistic.”
A black and white art stands out from other arts by taking away color to focus entirely on contrast, form, and texture.
“I also like acrylic paint because I enjoy painting with it and it is easier to work with since it's smooth,” said Strickland.
Acrylic art is unique because it is fast drying, water-based, and it acts like both watercolor and oil while sticking fast to nearly any surface. While those are some of Strickland's favorites, there are many other kinds that students may enjoy, like realism, emotional distortion, dreamlike scenes, fragmented forms, cubism, everyday culture, pop art, and abstract.
However, these valuable lessons don't come without obstacles.
“There have been multiple tons of new mistakes in art, but you just gotta embrace it and add it into your art or erase it and start over,” Strickland said.
The main obstacles that artists face are the perfectionism trap, comparison culture, artistic block, time and energy, and financial and resource constraints. Although many artists struggle with these things It's this willingness to embrace imperfection that makes art accessible to people from all backgrounds and cultures.
Arts impact, however, reaches much deeper than individual expression; it builds bridges between cultures that might otherwise remain divided. “Art connects people through its emotions and colors,” Strickland said.
Art can also connect different cultures, time and differences. As well as letting us see how much history has changed, it gives us people different perspectives and points of view on life, and it can change people's points of view on life, too.
Despite ongoing challenges, art programs continue to provide students with essential outlets for emotional expression and learning while connecting cultures and people.
Art Class Really is Worth It!
Art Class Really is Worth It!
By Sara Cohen
The art classes at Fountain Inn High School have proven that athletics aren’t the only program worthy of putting passion, effort, and time into.
Jason Martens has just recently begun Art 2 Honors at FIHS. After years of art class and even going to art camps over the summer, he believes that art class can influence improvement depending on the person taking the class.
“If the student is just there because it’s an extracurricular or credit, and they’re just taking the class to take the class, they’re not getting much out of it,” Martens explained.
Art class is generally a mandatory class, so there are many students who take the class simply to gain their fine arts credit. Even outside of high school, art classes usually have a few uninterested students who end up in the class.
Martens argues that art classes really do have many good qualities, but students who don’t truly take the class for such qualities won’t get to enjoy most of them.
For instance, Martens has an interest in telling stories through his art, and art class has allowed him to show this interest.
“We would do figure drawings, and I’d draw characters from comics and other things like that, or from other media,” Martens recalls.
According to Martens, Art 2 Honors also shows promise, and for those too interested in practicing and improving their art, it’s definitely a class to aim for!
“We do a lot of practice, so different worksheets that help us identify different elements of art. We also do bellringers every day so that we can learn about, write about, and make art,” Martens stated.
Martens’ current art teacher, Meredith Birch, who formerly served as the president and founder of Artible (SoCo) inc., also agrees that art class does cause artistic growth and improvement among other things. In other words, it’s definitely worth it for those seeking to improve their art!
“Students who wish to improve their art should take art classes at FIHS because the program provides a supportive environment that encourages skill development, creative thinking, and artistic growth.” Birch claimed.
Although both Martens and Birch agree that the class can result in improvement, there are also other positive qualities of the art class that not only they but others can also agree on.
Payton Ware is an 11th-grade art ceramics student who is also the president of the National Art Honor Society here, as well as an intern for Points of Origin.
Ware notes multiple qualities of the art classes at Fountain Inn High School, and expressed her gratitude for the art ceramics program here at the school.
“I think the fact that ceramics classes are offered at this school is amazing. I've been to quite a few high schools, and none of them had a dedicated ceramics program.” Ware stated.
Having also taken Art 2 & Art 3 at FIHS, she describes some of the positives and negatives of the classes.
“I really enjoyed taking Art 2 last school year, but when I took Art 3 last semester, I was a little disappointed in the level of work we were doing. I personally felt like we did harder projects in Art 2.” Ware said.
She emphasized her wish for more freedom with the assignments in Art 3 and expected it to be closer to a college-level art class than it truly was.
Some students may be more concerned about the class environment, which can be a deal-breaker for some, and for good reason. But Martens, Ware, and Birch cover this topic.
“The environment is pretty positive, because this time we get to really focus on our work, unlike in middle school, where it was harder because people would talk,” Martens said.
Martens explains that Art 2 Honors has a better class environment because he gets to focus. But, talking doesn’t always have to be a negative factor for all, and can certainly be a relief to some!
Furthermore, Ware says that her ceramics 2 class has a fun environment, and the students get a lot of flexibility with their designs.
Birch states that art classes at FIHS, including Art 2 Honors, offer guided instruction and constructive feedback, which can build a great environment for some students.
Overall, Birch, Ware, and Martens believe that art class is definitely worth it, but if you’re still unsure, take Martens advice. Rather than treating class like an unbearable requirement, treat it like an opportunity for improvement and interaction.
And remember that not every class is the same. If Ware had stopped taking art classes after Art 3, she wouldn't have gotten to be in her current ceramics 2 class, which she enjoys.
Getting INNvolved in the Community
(National Art Honor Society)
By Katelyn Burton
Fountain Inn High School is officially joining with the National Art Honor Society! Students have an opportunity to collaborate with a nation wide organization which focuses on community services through art.
The National Art Honor society will participate in many events which will involve helping the community through art. They may do fundraisers where they raise money with arts or crafts, community service such as painting for the community or teaching younger kids, school events, and field trips. They will have meetings on the first Thursday of each month, where they will discuss their plans for service projects. Members are expected to attend each meeting and participate in services.
Aside from just helping the community, there are other reasons you may want to join the National Art Honors Society. Since it is a nationwide recognized organization, it looks wonderful on resumes, and could get you scholarships. Taking part in the events will help to expand your skills in art and leadership. This would also be a great way to earn recognition for your art. Members have an opportunity to grow as an artist and a community member.
The National Art Honor Society had its first meeting on Sep. 19 at 3:50 P.M. This meeting gave anyone who's qualified a chance to sign up. If you didn't sign up then, you have until Sep. 25 to sign up.
There are some prerequisites to joining the National Art Honor Society. You have to have taken and passed an art class here at Fountain Inn. You also should have care and passion for the arts and your community. If you're interested in joining, you should email one of the teachers involved to let them know. Joining will cost $5, and you will be able to pay the fee on MySchoolBucks.
Not ready? No worries. Next semester there will be another meeting, which will give everybody another chance to join. If you're interested but have yet to complete your first art class, you will have more chances to get involved later.
The club will consist of sponsors, officers, and members.
Ms. Gravitt and Ms. Birch, Fountain Inn High's two art teachers, are the sponsors of the club. They will support and advise the members, as well as approve of whatever the members are doing and see that it gets done.
Members of the National Art Honor Society are to participate in whatever events and community service the club is doing, as well as attend the monthly meetings.
Some students will be chosen as Officers. Officers have the same responsibilities as normal members, but they still have jobs of their own. They will be the ones actually planning and sharing their ideas for events, fundraisers, and acts of service for the community. They will also take care of record keeping, some finances, and collaborating to help other classes promote the club.
National Art Honors Society is a great opportunity for artists to be recognized for their work and to help out the community. If you meet the requirements and you're interested, be sure to reach out to one of the club's sponsors, Ms. Gravitt or Ms. Birch.
Past Art News
Past Art News
Upcoming Interest Meeting
By Katelyn Burton
Fountain Inn high school is starting up its own National Art society! The National Art Society, similarly to National Honor Society, will be about service hours for the community and recognizing the artistic abilities of the students who join it.
There will be an interest meeting for any students who plan on possibly joining. It is scheduled to start sometime around 3:50 p.m. on Sept. 18th, and will take place in the ceramics room, room 1406.
Not only will the National Artist Society be a way of gaining recognition and helping the community, but it also looks great on resumes or college applications. Any and all artists who are interested in joining the National Artist Society should show up to the interest meeting after school on Sept. 18th for more information.
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