Clarke Central High School sophomore Kiley Hanna holds up a painting she made in her art class. Hanna says that she is a perfectionist when it comes to her work, and she sees some issues with the painting above.“I feel like I could’ve done some different things because that tree doesn’t look right,” Hanna said. Photo by Jurnee Louder.
By JURNEE LOUDER – Print Variety Writer
Sophomore Kiley Hanna talks with Variety Editor Jurnee Louder about what taking an art class is like, her interest in AP Art History and her artistic process.
Jurnee Louder: What made you get into art?
Kiley Hanna (@kileyhanna): I really just liked the way it looked and the way I could express myself through something other than my words because I’m not really good at doing that.
JL: What were those first few years of getting into art like for you?
KH: I really enjoyed it, but I found myself wanting to be really good at it, so if I didn’t like something, I would sit there for hours and try to fix it to the way that I wanted it. As I got older, (my art) just became better. I still spend a lot of time trying to perfect stuff, but it’s not as difficult.
JL: How long have you been talking art at (Clarke Central High School)?
KH: I’ve been taking art since ninth grade, so last year.
JL: What’s the title of the art class that you take?
KH: This is just Art II. Next year, will be Art III.
JL: Does AP Art History interest you?
KH: I think I’m gonna do that. For my electives, I put AP Art History.
JL: What interests you about AP Art History?
KH: I want to go into a medical field, but it’s where you design medical stuff. I feel like if I got into AP Art History, it will help with my career in the future. It’ll teach me how to read a textbook and things like that, so I can further understand art.
JL: What’s a typical day in the art class that you’re in now?
KH: Usually, we come in and start working on a “do now,” which is like a starter. It’s really just something simple. Honestly, we might even go get art supplies. Then, we either start on a project or we start going into a project, like a mini lesson. We do stuff like (the art seen above). Either Ms. Shelden instructs on what we’re doing, or we just go off and do what she assigns.
JL: What’s the environment like? Is the class something that someone who knows nothing about art can join?
KH: I would say yes. She makes it to where she’ll break it down for you, so you can understand how to do it even if it’s not the best. She really helps you. She was telling me about AP Art History and how you don’t have to be good at art to be in that class.
JL: I know that you guys are between projects, right now. Where do you begin when you start a project, process wise?
KH: I just start sketching stuff out. She’ll give us a topic to do, like landscapes, which we did earlier this year. My thought process is really all over the place, so I have to start somewhere. I just draw. It may be the messiest thing you’ve ever seen, but I understand it in my head. I have a bunch of sketches in my sketchbook.
JL: What if you start designing something, but you don’t like it? Is there room for you to go back and try again or do you have to keep going with what you have?
KH: It depends. I’m one of those people where if I don’t like it, I will stop. I will start over and I will go back and try to re-do it.
JL: Have you struggled in the class for that reason?
KH: Yes. (With) some of the stuff, if I don’t like it, I haven’t turned it in. (Shelden) is like, “You need to bring me my projects back,” and I’m like “Okay. Sorry.” So, I’m working at home to finish some projects to bring it to her.
JL: Do you think being in your class has helped your process a bit more or helped you mature art wise?
KH: Yes, it has. It’s not necessarily the class. It’s Ms. Shelden. She’ll tell me, “You need to stop doing this and do this instead,” and she’ll help me. I’ll ask her to help perfect it how I want it. She’ll steer me one way or steer me another way if my train of thought is going completely in another direction of the project.
JL: Can you describe the piece (shown above)?
KH: This is supposed to be a mountain. I’m using foreground, middleground and background. It goes from dark to light. This is using cool colors, and then warm colors and then cool colors again. There is a boat, I believe. I don’t really remember. It’s been a minute. Then, some mountains and some grass. Then, the city. We did these because I think it was the intro to watercolor. I chose (the warm colors) because (they) make me think of a sunset and I like purple.
JL: Was making this piece hard for you as you were doing it?
KH: Not really. I just followed along because this is one of the things that she did on the board. She made us do what she was doing to practice different techniques.
JL: Would you recommend art for others to take?
KH: Yes, because it’s a great stress reliever for me. I’ll go into art, and have all of this time because I’m in fourth period, and get lost in it and realize it’s time to go. It’s really fun. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t good at it. You’ll get better if you keep trying.
