Student Art
Kierra Fryberger
“WHO ARE YOU?”
Block Print
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Printing is probably one of my favorite techniques to use. It comes out clean and the entire process is fun to go through. Some of my other favorite mediums are watercolor, prisma colored pencils, and charcoal. Along the way of making this piece, I had to take my print home for several days to work on it; I made it too detailed to finish in the amount of time we had, but I think since it’s more detailed it gives it more dimension and life. I took a risk when I decided to carve a person. I don’t do people often, or even clothes for that matter, so that was a challenge but I persevered. having finished this piece, I accomplished the goal I had set for myself of creating something everyone can relate to; having trouble finding your identity.
Kierra Fryberger
“SELF PORTRAIT”
Charcoal Pencil
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’ve never used charcoal before, especially to this scale, so it was definitely a challenge that I didn’t think I was ready to face. I knew I didn’t want to do a portrait of me smiling because 1: I’m self conscious of my smile and 2: drawing and teeth is always something I’ve had troubles with. I had to take the portrait home over break to have more time to work because of my bad time management at school. In this artwork, I learned to observe closely and pay attention to detail; eyelashes, individual hairs, I even tried to shade in my acne, those are all details I wanted to be sure to include. I used to think that I wouldn’t be able to produce larger pieces because I have never dome it before. Now I think I am capable of tackling any sized papers or canvases.
Caitlyn Stayner
untitled
Watercolor
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
When things get difficult, I just try to keep moving forward and not focus too hard on the little things because the imperfections are what make it better. The project did not necessarily turn out exactly how I planned but I like how it turned out. Throughout this process it was hard to not mix the colors together since it was one of my first times working with water color. I like this artwork because it was something ive never done before and i think it turned out pretty good. I enjoyed working with watercolor to create this artwork because it allowed me to combine a lot of ideas and colors into one piece.
Taylor Koshiol
Kiss
Tempera Paint
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
When I get discouraged, I try to continue working and focus on the end result rather than remain unhappy with a piece that isn’t finished. While this piece is not something I would normally do, it turned out better than I thought it would. I struggled with a concept and eventually settled on this. It was difficult to blend these two popular cultures, as the shapes did not naturally fit together and I had to change elements of both in order to combine them. I like this artwork because I think I was overall successful in creating a piece that blended genres, and it was something I would never experiment with on my own.
Nicole Mannino
“Self Portrait”
Charcoal Pencil
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am of an Italian descent and I have been practicing drawing for five years now. When things are difficult I push through and ultimately strive for the initial desired outcome. I learned more about the medium of using charcoal pencils, as I usually draw portraits with prismacolor and graphite pencils. Along the way there were challenges regarding how exact I wanted the portrait to look. Shading and the medium was difficult, considering this was one of the few times I had used it. Observing details are most important with portraits of any kind in order to acheive the likeliness of that person. I enjoyed working with this artwork because it was on a much bigger scale than I am normally used to working with, and I hope to create a peice like this again.
Nicole Mannino
“Industrial Technology”
Graphite Pencil
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
This piece was inspired by the architecture of West Hills High School. After five years of drawing with graphite pencils, I never got into creating landscape drawings, especially of this scale, and of my own photo that I had taken. I am content with the final result of this project, as I learned how to better my use of vanishing points and shading. Trying to get the exact structure of the building and area around it was the most challenging part of the process. However, I managed to capture the detail and match it close to the refrence image. I was most engaged and persisted when I was working on the tree and the windows of the building. Having finished this project, I was able to display the beauty of the school’s design.
Lauren Jordan
“Hummingbird”
Tempera Paint
3rd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I usually like to work with tempera paint. I like to work with this medium because it makes it easier for me to create my own colors and I think I do my best work with it. In the beginning of this project, I was struggling with not knowing where or how to start and not liking what I had done once I got started. I made changes along the way and eventually I was happy with it even though it did not come out as I had expected. I thought I would not like the finished product but it is now one of my favorite pieces and I’m glad it came out the way it did.
Lauren McClure
“Verdure”
Tempera Paint
2nd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I have drawn since before I can remember, and I took after my eldest sister, wanting to be like her. Usually, I sketch with pencil and ink pens. They are smooth, easy to use, and the mediums that I started with in childhood. Art is important to me for multiple reasons: it surrounds everyone of us each day and is a theraputic resource. In this artwork I learned to closely observe the different colors in paint when dried compared to wet. I enjoyed making this work with tempera paint because it is a different medium than what I use daily.
Autumn Nordeen
“White Lies”
Watercolor
3rd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Art comes naturally to me and has for a long time. I started out copying from step-by-step drawing books and copying cartoons off of my brothers comics, but with age I became interested in faces, bodies, and bone structures. I love working with mediums that allow shading and depth, and that tends to be simple pencil and paper projects. This project allowed me to step out from my comfort zone and practice with a medium I gave up on years ago. I like this artwork because it contributed greatly to my confidence in my own artistic ability, as well as my ability to create a concept for an entire piece on my own. Support from my peers in 5th period made this artwork possible, especially from those who gave honest constructive criticism on how uneven the eyes were.
Lindsey Johnson
“Trees”
Watercolor
2nd year art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’ve always loved drawing and painting. I prefer to work with acrylics and colored pencils. I’ve only recently started working with watercolors. Whenever I practice with watercolors at home, it is usually no bigger than 5 inches. During this project, I learned how to evenly distribute the color on a large surface. This project allowed me to explore a new way of painting with watercolors but I still prefer my acrylic paints. I honestly don’t really like how this piece turned out, but Mr. Van Dyke says it’s good so it’s here now.
Morgan Doose
“Skull Flowers”
Ink
1st year art
ARTIST STATEMENT
In this artwork I learned to observe closely to what I was actually drawing, thinking of textures and how different lines would look where and being very deliberate in what pen techniques are used in certain parts of the peice. I was most engaged and persisted when i started to work on the skull itself, because when i was using the scribble method to create a bone texture, i found it interesting how a skulll actually had that sort of pattern naturally. I took a risk when i decided to put cross hatching at the bottom of my art work because it looked a little boring and not visually interesting until i added that extra bit of shading. This artwork is similar in style to georgia o’keefe’s red white and blue painting of a skull, and I drew inspiration from that peice. i like this artwork because it is the first pen and ink type project that i have ever done and i think that i did very well on it.
Emma Krist
“Wizard’s Shadow”
Ink
1st year art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Throughout my 5 years of drawing experience, the major influences in my art have been a love of fantasy and imagination; I enjoy creating scenes and characters that transport people into another world. Art is important to me because it provides me with a creative outlet and a way to share my creations with others. I like this project in particular because it allowed me to think about a medium I am comfortable with in a new way and create a drawing I am proud of. The base of the project turned out how I expected, but I didn’t anticipate how much more I would like it after adding all of the details. I enjoyed how this drawing made me test the boundaries of my comfort zone and try something new. Having finished this drawing, I completed one of the most complex artworks I have drawn to date, and I am overjoyed to share it with the rest of our school community.
Darla Schaefer
“WW3”
Watercolor, crayon, pen, etc...
3rd year art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I made this piece during the time that North Korea was threatening the US with a “Christmas gift” in the winter of last year, so I felt that I wanted to reflect that fear of nuclear war in this social commentary assignment. I had to use four or more mediums, which was a bit difficult but fun to incorporate the different textures into a single image, and I think using crayon was the most rewarding because I was able to include a rougher texture that contrasted with the smoother paints like the watercolor for the fallout in the background. I personally don’t prefer having political messages in my art, but this piece was a good change of pace.
Drew Swaim
“Charcoal Self Portrait”
Charcoal
2nd year art
ARTIST STATEMENT
Realism and drawing realistically has been difficult for me because I mostly draw and paint very stylistically, and thankfully Mr. Van Dyke has pulled me out of my comfort zone this year and last year, and taught me how to try mediums that I might not be comfortable with (In this case, charcoal). This year and during this piece specifically, I learned to blend more smoothly and use proportions to my advantage. Having finished this piece I am really happy with the outcome and am thankful for the opportunity to try new things.
Zoey Wasko
“Myself”
Prismacolor pencils
3rd Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, I used to draw with my dad when I was younger and I like to think he is the reason I continue to grow as an artist. In this piece we drew a self portrait with items that reflect who we are and I decided to create this piece with pencils because its the medium I would like to get better in. I had a few problems with blending the pencils and creating smooth gradients, but it helped me learn more about the medium. Having finished this piece, I can see improvement in my use of color pencil
Kirsten Fraga
“Peace&Love”
Charcoal and Coloured Pencils
(AP Studio Art)
ARTIST STATEMENT
I chose to continue making art because I realized it was what I truly desired to do for the rest of my life. I’ve been drawing since 7th grade and I want to keep improving my technique and style because I know that that is what I see myself doing in the future. This project represents the peace and love that comes in the marriage of 2 people. The red roses representing love and the white ones representing peace, which is why the hands are catching one that is pink, to symbolize a healthy balance between the two colours. Art is important to me because I feel like it’s a way to communicate with others without using words, but using visually appealing creations and relating emotions through those pieces. I like this artwork because I feel that the symbolism behind it is very effective and beautiful, as well as the close attention to detail and the process of making it. I enjoyed working with charcoal and coloured pencils because they are the media that I think that I work best with. And using Mr. Van Dyke’s hands as reference for the hands in the drawing helped to use a live reference instead of a simple picture that anyone could find online.
Jamie Sanders
“Miscellaneous”
Pencil
(Art 5/6)
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’ve been practicing art ever since I can remember; ever since my sister sat me down and instructed me how to draw a dolphin in her pretend art classes when we were little. Art has always been a fulfilling creative outlet for me, and despite its challenges I have always found it to be relaxing. My favorite medium to work with is actually pencil, however, I tend to prefer drawing faces. So, creating this piece was an interesting change. One of the most satisfying things in the world is recreating objects down to their tiniest detail on paper. The objects in this piece are all things that represent me. The mug is from my grandparents, and actually has the word “Aiti” on it, meaning “home” in Finnish, but it isn’t quite visible from the angle I drew it at. The candy wrapper represents my sweet tooth, the dog collar my three corgis, the leaf my love for nature, the book my love for reading, and the paintbrush my creativity.
Jamie Sanders
“Fortune”
Tempura Paint/Watercolor
(Art 5/6)
ARTIST STATEMENT
I’ve been practicing art ever since I can remember; ever since my sister sat me down and instructed me how to draw a dolphin in her pretend art classes when we were little. Art has always been an important creative outlet for me, and despite its challenges I’ve always found it to be relaxing and fulfilling. This piece was prompted by the message in a fortune cookie, which said “Don’t let everyday distractions blind you from the beauty in life,” which I found quite beautiful. The divide in the different mediums and styles in the painting is supposed to represent the trivial issues and superficial concerns of life crumbling away to reveal the beauty underneath that people tend to forget. I really enjoyed creating this painting, but I absolutely despise using watercolors, so that provided a bit of a challenge. This is probably the most creative thing that I’ve ever made, given my preference for detailed pencil drawings, so that was a fun change.
Madison Amaya
“Self Portrait”
Charcoal Pencil
(2nd Year Art)
ARTIST STATEMENT
When I was in 6th grade, my close friends inspired me to get into art and here I am now in 10th grade, still creating it. I’m pretty proud of myself for making it this far. My art has improved drastically over the last few years and I haven’t seen many people improve that fast. I just kept practicing and practicing every day and showing my work to others for critisism and recommendations. What surprises me the most about this piece of art is that it’s super realistic compared to my cartoony-style I use. I didn’t expect this piece to come out as well as it did. I haven’t practiced with many of the mediums we use in class, such as charcoal pencils and watercolor paints. But I got used to them pretty fast. I feel like I learn and adapt to new concepts quickly, which is really helpful in art. When creating art, there are so many things you can do with it. Getting comfortable with mediums is important too. The next thing I want to get comfortable with is animating. That’s my biggest goal, to be an animator and work for well-known animation studios like Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks, Blue Sky, etc… I was always inspired by Disney and their animations. There’s just a feel to them no other film can master. I want to make that impression on my art, so I strive my hardest to make every piece of work I make unique. I couldn’t have done this without my close friends, family and art teacher Mr. Van Dyke supporting me. Van Dyke inspires me and wants me to do my absolute best every time I make a piece of art. I thank him and everyone else for that.
Mariah Eruotor
“Print”
Printing
(2nd Year Art)
ARTIST STATEMENT
Whenever I go through hardships with creating art, the thing that mainly keeps me going are different types of artwork artists create. When I see a known artists artwork, it makes me want to keep going and improve my work.
This project that I created did not come out as planned. If I am being honest I didnt really have a plan for this project. I just went with the flow and drew whatever came to mind.
When I practice art I feel at peace and quite joyful. I am almost always in my happy place when I do practice my art skills.
I like this artwork because its way different from what I would usually do. Its simple yet somewhat aesthetically pleasing. I used to think that art didnt have a meaning behide it. But now I believe there is always a story or a certain meaning that comes with it.
Claudia Ylagan
“Fungi Mood”
Colored Pencils
AP Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
I began to experiment with art when I took my first art class in middle school. Throughout the year I discovered my love for creativity and the use of various medians. I personally love to use prisma colored pencils because of their smooth blending capabilities. This piece was created for one of my best friends named Jason. The fungi theme was inspired by the various of nature documentaries my boyfriend and I had watched constantly. In this artwork I learned to obersve closely the use of bright colors and the importance of values. I used to think some ideas were never good ones. Now I see any idea can turn into a fun and memorable piece.
Shayla Morreale
“She’s So Koi”
Pen and Ink
1st Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
My name is Shayla Morreale, I’m 14 years old, and I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. I come from a family that really admires the arts, so my love for it began at a young age. This project did not turn out how I expected it to, because I didn’t exactly have anything in mind to begin with. When I heard that we could use this project to draw anything we wanted, I knew I wanted to create something outside the bounds of reality, but I wasn’t quite sure what. It was a blast to just see where my mind took me. Art is important to me for so many reasons. It can be a comfort when I’m feeling down, it can be a way to express myself, and I absolutely love doing it; I really don’t think I could live without it. In this artwork I learned to observe closely where I placed every line so everything flowed and worked well together. I enjoyed working with several pen shading techniques to create this artwork, because it expanded my use of pen and ink.
Shayla Morreale
“Rocking and Rolling”
Construction Paper
1st Year Art
ARTIST STATEMENT
When practicing art gets difficult, I remind myself that I will always get better if I put in the time. Mediums I enjoy working with consist of mainly pen and ink and marker, because I have had quite a bit of practice with them. My marker collection continues to grow, and I’m running out of space to keep them. When I practice art I feel especially happy, it brings me joy whenever I do it. I like this artwork because it’s completely different from the kind of art I’m used to. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and although there were moments I got discouraged, I’m incredibly proud of the result. I enjoyed working with construction paper to create this artwork, because it was something I’d never thought of using to make art.
Tommy Gould
Pen
1st Year Art
Jackie Webb
Block Print on Spray Paint
Advanced Placement
Aleyah Plata
Pen
1st Year Art