At Chapman High School, there are two art rooms and five art classes a day.
Some students may not see the value in taking art, but art teacher Sara McCann believes it’s important.
“Art teaches critical thinking,” she said.
In class, students get a sampling of all kinds of arts, from drawing to painting and even sculpture.
“Courses are designed to progress in skill and technicality as students advance to high-level courses,” art teacher Ashley Burnett.
As students get into higher arts classes, they get more in-depth and have more artistic freedom;, they spend their class working on their portfolios.
But visual arts does just apply to traditional art classes. Theatre uses visual arts backstage with their tech crew.
“I build props. and occasionally, I will help with costumes,” junior Stage Manager Emmalee Flake said. “I sometimes have to sew costumes back together if they are damaged.”
Art and crafts skills can be useful outside of theater or the classroom.
“Even if you go into a job or degree that is not arts-based, critical thinking and having a certain quality to your work even if it’s not artwork, are skills everyone needs,” McCann said.
But if a student did want to study art there are numerous professions in which an art degree would be useful.
Other than just being an art teacher, people who pursue art can be art therapists, clothing designers, game and media design, film producers and commercial and advertising arts.
“Even though a student may not have an interest in pursuing art as a career they will take away skills that can be used in any profession,” Burnett said.
But students who are in art currently can still find ways to enjoy it,” McCann said:
“I think it’s a nice break in the day. To have a moment to paint or draw, it’s a nice way to break up the day.”
