![“I've always been into [doodling] with pencils and ink. I used to watch YouTube drawing tutorials and [tried] to copy them. I had so much fun with that, but I felt like I was never [that] good [at art]; it made me lose motivation to draw. If I don't feel motivated to draw, I don't force myself to. I want drawing to be fun for me. I feel like every time I start again I'm better than when I left. People can [create] art really fast but I'll sit there for hours and not be [finished] with the smallest [detail.] I learned to have patience [and] take my time. I used to try to get [fancy] materials. I was so stuck in the mindset that I needed [more supplies] to get better. I would get it and then feel discouraged because [my art quality] would be the same. Be patient with yourself. You don't need fancy materials to [make astounding] art. You can just use a wooden pencil and draw an amazing piece. I enjoy making beautiful [pieces] that have a message [behind it.] It's rewarding to see hours of work pay off as the final piece comes together.” - Morgan Summa, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0034-1200x800.jpg)
![Envisioning a cathedral in his mind, senior Soren Frederick puts pencil to paper and practices a rough sketch in the drawing room. Frederick grew up surrounded by a family of artists who helped him realize his passion for drawing and painting as he matured. “My family [is] very much [an inspiration] for drawing and painting. [Art] didn’t start [in the family] with me; it started with my mom and my older sister, and my older brother is very good at drawing [too],” Frederick said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0017-1200x800.jpg)
![From Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, Parkway West High is displaying a wide array of art pieces made by students ranging from elementary to high school. All classes were represented on the displays in both the art wing and the main foyer of the school. “[Art] benefits me because in the middle of a busy day. I can just relax and have some fun doing art and it makes me happy. I think it's important that you show art in the art show so that people can get inspired by it and be inspired to create their own pieces; it’s really impactful,” sophomore Dhiya Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![“My favorite quote is probably from one of my favorite musicians, Maynard James Keenan. The quote is, ‘One day if you're lucky, you realize that you are not the story. You are [a] part of the story and the story is much bigger than you.’ I'm only just a part of the story [in] this world. I am not the main focus of everything, but we're all in this together. We have a direct relationship with nature and with everything around us. [In that sense,] it's more validating. I've kind of felt it before but hearing somebody else say [those words] was a good feeling. The biggest lesson I’ve learned was realizing that it was okay to not fit in. [As] I haven't fit in with my peers very well. [It was impactful just] realizing that it's okay to not be like everybody else and [it's important to] figure out who you are. Change is hard. But every time you are in a new situation or a new environment, you're learning things about yourself and about other people. It’s important to realize that it might be hard, but you're going to grow from it and you're going to become a better version of yourself.” - Kristi Ponder, Art](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kristi-Ponder-1200x800.jpg)
![“My biggest passion is graffiti. I love putting my name on stuff. I love the style, and the improvement [I make]. People overlook it, but once you start trying to do it, it's a lot harder than it might look. I love creating art. I love making new designs, sketching my notebook and painting. I think that making art in general, is what makes me me. I think other people think I'm unique because I have an interesting history and an interesting life because not a lot of people are into [things that I’m interested in]. My history was sour, but I think it's what made me. I don't care about how I'm perceived. As long as [people] like me for me. I want [to be surrounded by] the type of people that bring me up, [and rely on them to] help me back up if I fall down.” - Ryan Mues, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Ryan-Mues-9-1200x800.jpg)
![“The best thing that you can do for yourself is dress the way you want, talk the way you want, and be as social as you possibly can. Just be as happy, positive, and expressive as possible, love each other, and be confident about that. [A way I express myself is through] art. I'm an artist in so many ways, I work with a bunch of different media. I write songs, I sing in a band, I play the bass, I just really love music. Every person is unique and can be an artist as long as they base their art around their experiences. [My art is about my] childhood, and social experiences [because] I know that can be a really big connector with people who have gone through things like that. I just really love being able to love [on] other people.” - Faith Kothe, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-FaithKothe11-1200x800.jpg)
![Art teacher Kat Briggs poses for a picture in her art room. Briggs grew up loving art, and now is fulfilling her passion. “My own experiences that I had outside the classroom with my own art teacher made me realize that there are skills that I can use outside of the classroom,” Briggs said. “Encouraging the students and also showing interest in the things that they do, whether it's extracurriculars or their own hobbies and interests that they enjoy doing in their free time, is something I like to [do to] feel engaged with them. The classroom is a snapshot, it's 90 minutes of just seeing somebody in one context, [but] everybody is so much more than that,” Briggs said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image3-3-1200x800.jpg)
![Freshmen Cole Barton and Preston Priest make origami flowers during free time in their Drawing 1 class. Both gained an affinity for origami through the internet and further practiced this art under the guidance of West High Drawing 1 teacher Kat Briggs. “Their origami pieces are especially intricate. Both use multiple small pieces of paper that fold and interlock, enabling their sculptures to move and also simulate textures. They also use very precise folds, and I appreciate the careful craftsmanship that [goes] into their art,” Briggs said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_0019-2-copy-1-1200x800.jpg)
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