Throwing Talent

Throwing Talent: New investments, expanded curriculum shaping students into young artists

Over the past eight years, ASMSA has made an effort to increase the standing of the arts program at the school. Both institutional funds as well as private gifts have allowed the school to add two full-time art instructors to the faculty, introduce new courses, and purchase new equipment.

Those investments are resulting in not only a more dynamic curriculum but in students’ abilities and recognition as well. As students are introduced to an increased number of art techniques and styles, they are using them to create award-worthy pieces.

A $25,000 grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation allowed ASMSA to further expand its arts education program in the 2020-21 academic school year. The grant enables the school to offer additional courses in life drawing, printmaking, flameworking, illustration, fiber design, as well as small metals and jewelry. Additional coursework in Modern Design and Craft included furniture and applied design, computer applications in art, 3D modeling and technology, construction, and mechanical engineering.

The Windgate Charitable Foundation supports arts education programs, K-12 school-improvement programs, higher education initiatives as well as some social service programs. The foundation was founded in 1993 in Siloam Springs but is now based in Little Rock.

ASMSA matched the grant with institutional funds to help upgrade current classroom spaces and tools necessary to expand the program. The school purchased additional dust collections units, machinery upgrades, table tools, and a paint booth.

The expansion of the coursework began this past academic year, creating opportunities for ASMSA’s students to thrive in additional unique art course offerings, including Digital Art, 3D Art and Design, and 2D Design.

The Windgate grant was used to purchase new equipment such as pottery wheels, a slab roller and a clay mixer for the ceramics course. Art instructor Sara Henry, who specializes in ceramics, said the new equipment will allow her to offer two ceramics course sessions each semester, which gives more students access to the classroom and equipment. Students will learn new ceramic techniques such as clay throwing and work with new materials.

Clockwise, Catherine Kwon (‘21), Danielle Luyet (‘22), and Nina Thomas (‘21) were among the students who earned many honors in various visual art competitions this year. Luyet and Kwon both earned the honor of their artwork being chosen to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol through the Congressional Art Competition. All three students’ artwork were chosen for display at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion as well.

Art instructor Brad Wreyford praised using the combination of grant and institutional funds to improve the hardware available in the school’s woodshop and other art spaces. He said among the improvements included in the woodshop was a new lathe, a panel saw, and Festool products that would make the wood shop a safer work environment with great functional capacity and allow the school to grow the unique program.

“We have the support of the administration not only academically in valuing the arts but also financially,” Wreyford said. “The administration and ASMSA Foundation Fund have been very supportive of what Sara, Fred (Zipkes, digital photography and graphic design instructor), and I do. We’re at a school that wants to see its students and the program succeed.”

The grant and institutional match continues the focused investment ASMSA has made in the arts program in recent years. The initial phase of the program’s development focused on core opportunities for existing ASMSA students. Later phases have included the hiring of arts-specific faculty members and the creation of a curricular track in humanities as well as outreach programs for students in middle and early high school.

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Digital Art is one of the new courses offered through the grant. Taught by Henry, the course provides students the opportunity to learn visual art techniques while using an electronic pen tablet and computer. The One by Wacom pen tablet comes with software that allows it to mimic various art tools and supplies, such as charcoal, paint, paint brushes, and more.

Henry said it’s an advantage for students to be able to gain experience in different mediums while using one tool.

Art instructor Sara Henry demonstrates how The One by Wacom pen tablet works. Henry taught a new course this year — Digital Art — that uses the tablets. The tablet uses software that allows the user to mimic using various art tools and supplies such as charcoal, paint, paint brushes,and more. Henry said that is an advantage for students to be able tog ain experience in different mediums while using one tool.

“You can do just about anything you can think of — graphite, pastels, watercolor, acrylic painting,” Henry said. “It’s kind of limitless as long as you have the necessary plugins.”

The tablet is approximately 8 inches wide by 5 inches tall and connects to the computer via a USB cord. The accompanying stylus has small nibs that help the artist create precise marks. The software allows students to zoom in to see small details and back out to see the larger piece in whole.

It also provides students advanced methods that wouldn’t necessarily be possible on paper. Henry used the example of drawing faces. If an artist sketches a face on paper, they may initially draw a grid to determine the proper dimensions for the head. Using pencil, the artist would then need to either erase or somehow incorporate the grid into their drawing.

With the Wacom tablet, students may develop layers within their drawings. So a student could potentially use the same kind of grid to determine dimensions but place it on a different layer than their drawing. Once they no longer need the grid, they may delete that layer, Henry said.

But just because the students are using technology for their assignments doesn’t mean they aren’t learning the basic skills for art created using traditional media.

“I’m still teaching the traditional skills on how to build up layers, how to do shading, how to get a face to look three-dimensional on a two-dimensional plan. They will be able to go into a beginning drawing class in college and have the skills needed,” she said.

That also includes using the stylus to improve their hand-eye coordination. Depending on the setting the student is using, the stylus and board can be very sensitive, allowing the artist to barely touch the stylus to the tablet to create a faint line or press harder for a dark line. It’s a more natural artistic movement than using a mouse to draw on the computer would be.

Henry said she has seen the use of a pen tablet help improve a student’s physical artwork as well. One student in a drawing course during the 2019-20 academic year wanted to use digital methods more than traditional methods. Henry had the student learn the traditional way of drawing first but allowed more work to be completed digitally throughout the year. By the end of the class, the student was drawing strictly on tablet, but their basic skills had improved.

That was what initially gave Henry the idea for a digital class, although she had not taught a Digital Art class previously. This semester’s class has been a learning experience for her as well. She has been drawing using a tablet along with her students.

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Beginning this fall, ASMSA will expand its opportunities for students passionate about the arts with a Foundations of Visual Arts program of study. The new sequence of courses will align with most undergraduate majors in visual arts. It will include Digital Photography within the foundational curriculum along with Drawing, 2D Design, and 3D Art while better integrating the two-semester capstone course required for juniors with an increased number of elective courses.

Much of the school’s efforts to expand coursework in visual and performing arts have been grafted onto the STEM experience. As interest grows in the arts, a campus workgroup advocated for making a leap forward by allowing students to focus more time on these specific courses.

Students who choose this option will generally take two visual arts courses each semester. The experience remains rooted in high academic standards and preparation for college-level learning across all disciplines. Students who are interested in art courses in addition to STEM topics can still pursue the individual courses as electives through their time at ASMSA.

Seniors who follow the Foundations sequence would take Senior Studio during the fall semester of their final year. The course will focus on portfolio building, arts as a profession, personal branding, college planning, and submitting to various competitions.

Students who choose the Foundations pathway would take three additional elective art courses to complete the program’s requirements. They would also still have to meet state language, math, science and other humanities requirements as well as ASMSA’s Concurrent Core requirements.

“The curriculum not only ensures students have a foundational knowledge of visual arts and design but also guides them on a path to local, state, and national competitions that serve both an individual and institutional good,” according to a white paper discussing the details of the program.

It would also create a talent pipeline for colleges and universities throughout Arkansas who have made recent investments in arts education.

“Generous private gifts to the Universities of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Fort Smith, and Little Rock ensure that talented young Arkansas artists can hone their skills and craft through immersive experiences after they graduate from ASMSA,” the paper said.

Catherine Kwon (‘21) won ‘Best of Show’ in the 2021 Governor’s Young Artist contest for her painting ‘Harmony in Diversity.’

ASMSA student artists earn honors in competitions

Thea Foundation Visual Arts Competition

Senior Catherine Kwon won first place and a $4,000 scholarship for her piece “Keeping Me, Influencing Me.” Senior Hadley Hooper won seventh place and a $2,000 scholarship for her piece “Passion, Hope, and Determination.” Senior Takoya Marks won 10th place and a $2,000 scholarship for her piece “Shadows.”

The Thea Foundation serves as an advocate for the importance in arts in the development of Arkansas’ youth. The foundation provides assistance and encouragement through scholarship competitions, providing art supplies to educators and students, and professional development training among other activities.

Congressional Art Competition

Four students earned recognition in the Congressional Art Competition, including two students earning the privilege of having their art displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Catherine Kwon (’21) won first place in the Second Congressional District competition sponsored by U.S. Rep. French Hill. Danielle Luyet (’22) won first place in the Fourth Congressional District competition sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman. Nina Thomas (’21) placed second in the Fourth District while Madison Mainer (’21) was in fifth place.

2021 Governor’s Young Artist Competition

Three students were selected to participate in the 2021 Governor’s Young Artist Competition exhibit at the Governor’s Mansion.

Seniors Catherine Kwon and Nina Thomas and junior Danielle Luyet were chosen to participate in this year’s exhibit of artwork by ninth- through 12th-grade students from across the state. Kwon’s piece “Harmony in Diversity” was selected as Best of Show, and Thomas received the Best Theme award for her piece, “Stars and Stripes”. Luyet received an honorable mention for her entry, “The Faces of America.’

Their work was on display at the Arkansas

Governor’s Mansion in April. This year’s theme was “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Students combined their artistic talent with a patriotic vision to create art that celebrates and honors America. The participants submitted their pieces digitally for consideration by the Governor’s Mansion and Friends of the Mansion organization.

Arkansas Young Artists Association Competition

Ten students earned recognition in the Arkansas Young Artists Association Competition. Receiving awards were:

Catherine Kwon (‘21): first place in Expressive Oils, first place in Realistic Watercolor, first place in Mixed Media Low Relief (Expressive), and honorable mention Portrait (Expressive).

Nina Thomas (‘21): First place Mixed Media 2D (Abstract/Nonobjective) and honorable mention, Cut Paper/Collage

Skylar Boone (‘22): First place in Portrait (Abstract)

Adam Kaderly (‘22): Second place in First Year Collage/Mixed Media and fourth place in Mixed Media 2D (Abstract)

Winnie Smith (‘22): Second place in Pen/Ink (Realistic) and honorable mention, Digital Art- Computer Generated no photography or photos used

Lillian Hickman (‘21): Third place in Mixed Media 2D (Realistic)

Chelsie Marquez (‘22): Third place in Mixed Media 2D (Expressive)

Eureka Smith (‘22): Third place in First Year Collage/Mixed Media and honorable mention in First Year Painting

Nina Niemotka (‘22): Third place in Colored Pencil (Abstract) and honorable mention in First Year Collage/Mixed Media

Madison Mainer (‘21): Fourth place in Pen/ Ink (Realistic)