It can be difficult to make art without art supplies, but the OVS students are doing it.
On an average day at OVS, it is common to see the art room booming with student creations. Distance learning, however, has left the art room void of new color as the students are making their work from home.
Ms. Hersk can still be found on campus, and if one looks closely, the small cameras of each student as they work on their projects in class can be seen.
While not every student is equipped with an art studio full of supplies, Ms. Hersk has given craft-bags to those who need it. The students were given sketchbooks, pencils, rulers, and other essentials needed to create art.
“It felt like Christmas when I got the supplies,” said senior Adrian Ortiz.
What a typical art class looks like depends on the day. Ms. Hersk often prepares slideshows to present new projects, and the students will tilt their cameras towards their art as they work. While it may seem easy to digitally alter art, Ms. Hersk explains that she does not allow her students to photoshop their work. She has had to learn a new method of teaching. “You just have to be more creative with your art classes,” she said. “Keep in mind what materials they might have.”
However, there are some projects that are impossible to do from home. “It could be as simple as they don’t have magazines or a complete set of colored pencils,” says Ms. Hersk.
While there are limitations to online art classes, such as the inability to draw still-lifes, Ms. Herk admits that online learning has transformed some aspects in a positive way. “ It has given me inspiration to do different projects,” said Ms. Hersk. “You have to think outside the box.”
While working from home, students have more time to create art as they have access to it at all times. “I’m finding that they’re doing a lot of good work and more work independently,” she says.
Although they have been apart, inspiration has not been an issue among the students, as they can frequently view one another’s art despite the virtual format. Ms. Hersk has created a google drive that displays the art of her students and plans on sharing it with the faculty once there is a fuller body of work.
Advanced studio art student Sydnee Rousseau works in a small class with two of her peers and is enjoying the class immensely. “It’s fun because it’s so small we get to bounce ideas back and forth,” she says. “It’s more personal. [Mrs. Hersk] has made it very user friendly for us to be able to do advanced art class online. I’m really enjoying it so far.”
Students and faculty alike hope that school will return in time for the annual art show, where all of the student’s artwork is displayed. However, even if this is not possible, a virtual art show will take place. Whether or not school is in person, students are working hard and their efforts will be admired and appreciated.
“Even though class isn’t in person, it is still a great experience,” explained Adrian.