Put your mind at easel: take painting

If you have taken Beginning and Studio Art, and are looking for another art class to satiate your creative spirit, you are in luck! Art teacher Jill Fortman’s Painting course is a semester-long class with a project based curriculum that fully encapsulates every great aspect of the Hoban art department. 

The semester begins with the basics; students will learn how to properly mix colors as well as the proper brushes to use for different types of strokes. From there, you will learn how to match certain styles, how to integrate texture into your pieces, and even how to stretch canvas to create a medium for painting. Beyond the technical aspects of the class, the atmosphere is extremely welcoming and it is difficult to fall behind, even if you struggle in the beginning. 

When I was scheduling my classes freshman year, I had a few options in my schedule for art classes, but I knew I did not want to take painting. However, my mom had other ideas, and signed me up for the class. Fresh out of winter break, I realized my aversion was warranted; I was not good at painting. Consequently, I struggled for the first few weeks. I thought that I wanted to drop the class, but the initial failure is what made the experience. 

Once the class fell into full swing, I began to realize how much fun painting was. The process of matching colors and creating different projects was a completely new experience, one which I think a lot of people would enjoy just as much as I do. As the year went on, I understood the process more and more, and by the end, I felt as though I had truly cultivated a new passion. 

The class is also very much individual based, with every student working on their own personal projects pretty much right after learning the basics and receiving their supplies. Despite the terrifying prospect of applying skills, Fortman does a wonderful job of personally assisting all students and making sure no one is left behind amidst the hustle and bustle of people carrying paint, stretching canvas, and cleaning brushes. 

When asked what she believed made painting a worthwhile class, Fortman stated, “Painting is one of the most difficult things to learn, what is super exciting for me is watching a student be super frustrated with it, and then they keep working and finally start to get it. By the end of the semester they are creating artwork that is just phenomenal!” 

The experience of painting is truly unique, and I do not believe I have ever taken a more all-around enjoyable class. It is not only a great way to learn a new art form, but a wonderful chance to try something which you may not excel at. So, if you are on the hunt for a creativity fix, try and mix painting into your schedule.