Art I

Art 1 is a course designed for beginning art students to get a taste of all sorts of different mediums. Throughout the course of the semester, students get the chance to work with pastels, pencils, acrylic paints and clay. Recently, students in Art 1 have been experimenting with monoprints and linoleum prints.

Linoleum prints involve carving a design into a linoleum block, then covering the carved block in ink, and pressing it onto paper, resulting in cool designs that students let dry, before washing the block, and repeating the process in order to create multilayer print designs. As one could predict, this requires an abundance of tools; linoleum blocks, carving tools, rollers to apply ink, the ink itself, and of course paper to complete the process. In adapting to Covid-19, students have been allowed to bring these tools home in small boxes so they can work on their projects in distance learning. 

When students are distance learning, they must adapt; however, when students are in school, there are simply a few guidelines to follow. Of course, they are wearing masks and social distancing, which has been made easier thanks to large new tables for the CFHS art room. In regards to these tables, student Kendahl Zimmerman stated that “They give us a lot of space to work with. The only complaint I really have is not being able to sit around a table with my friends while we work.”

Zimmerman enjoys art, but feels that it isn’t as much fun at home. Talking with friends while sketching out designs is a favorite part of visual art classes for many, but unfortunately, distance learners simply don’t get to experience it this year. So, while the Art 1 class has effectively adapted to online learning as far as the actual creation of art goes, the environment and experience while in hybrid learning simply isn’t the same.