Coloring Futures: Why Every Student Should Embrace Art Class

Coloring Futures: Why Every Student Should Embrace Art Class

Silver Creek High School has a lot to offer: this includes fine and performing arts programs. Both fine arts and performing arts help students develop their creativity and exercise their critical thinking skills.

Anne Torkelson is one of the many art teachers at Silver Creek. Torkelson enjoys teaching Crafts, she gets to see her students view themselves as artists, being creative, and having fun in a safe space like her art room.

“I love crafts because the students in the classes aren’t typically what you expect,” Torkelson said. “They’re the ones who need a creative outlet”

Crafts class is a very useful subject. This class helps students plan for projects by letting them collaborate and problem-solve. Crafts is a class where students are able to socialize and create friendships as well as art.

”We come across projects throughout our lives, whether as homeowners, at work, pursuing a hobby, or in any other aspect of life,” Torkelson states.

Torkelson doesn’t have a specific unit she likes teaching; she considers them all fun; however, needle felting is particularly a fun unit. Needle felting is where you can construct shapes and figures using wool and special felting needles.

“The whole idea of craft is that it’s functional and we find ways to make something beautiful out of a functional thing,” Torkelson says.

This class is recommended to students who may feel uncomfortable in a traditional art setting, welcoming students who need a little push outside their comfort zone. Here, Crafts will allow you to choose different aspects. Crafts is about expanding your attention to detail.

Kingston Blue, a Senior at Silver Creek High School is taking AP art with Kate Giese.

“The thing I like most about my art class I’m in is that it really supports us to explore our own styles and how I express myself through art,” he says.

Taking this class helps Blue get the credit that will help him get into a good college to pursue his art career.

AP art also helps him learn new skills and techniques that he will need in college like communication, realistic drawing, time management, and networking. Blue looks forward to 2D designs which means no digital illustrations. Taking this class will help students pursue what they are passionate about.
The goal of this class is to help students express themselves through art and show who they are as an artist and to ”Naildown your artistic vision,” Blue says.

In addition to the crafts and AP art classes, performing arts is a very creative way to express yourself. Elsa Wirkkanen, a Junior here at Silver Creek enjoys the performing arts program. Wirrkanen enjoys playing in a band because of the aspects of creating a community and bringing everyone together.

“Everyone is super supportive and helpful,” Wirkkanen says.

She performed in “James and the Giant Peach” during her Freshman year and “Grease” during her Sophomore year. Wirkkanen enjoyed playing ensemble roles in both musicals but she particularly liked Grease because she had more friends on stage.

Wirkkanen enjoys the musicals because of all the singing and dancing. Performing arts helps with your pathways in this area of creativity.

“Performing arts helps me study because it gives me an outlet when my brain begins to break.”

Visual art and Performing art helps students in many ways by helping them reduce stress and broaden their minds in creative ways.