Has making art ever caused you stress? Visual arts are generally considered a relatively low-stress outlet for self-expression. Yet, many people find the need for “perfection” to be a roadblock when trying to create art.
For senior Julia Fernandez, this was the case for much of her artistic career. An artist from an early age, Fernandez received extensive training in visual arts.
From pottery classes to acrylic painting, she has virtually worked with every visual art medium at some point. A double major in art and design and psychology, Fernandez aims to be an art therapist in the future.
Despite her long history working with visual arts, Fernandez hasn’t always found it easy to express herself through art. It wasn’t until a semester abroad in Rome that she seemed to crack the code to unleash her full creative potential.
“Art used to actually cause me a lot of stress,” said Fernandez. “I’m an art student, I study art in classes. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so that was a really big hurdle for me.”
Fernandez, while studying art at John Cabot University in Rome, was met with a new approach to creating art. In particular, a painting assignment where each student was instructed to create a piece that expressed oneself was the catalyst for this new attitude towards creating.
“They were more interested in idealism and the thought process behind the work,” Fernandez said, regarding her painting instructors at John Cabot. “That really spoke to me because that wasn’t something I had ever focused on in the past, especially in an academic setting.”
A self-proclaimed non-artist, senior Sam Pierre, is more of an analytical type. Admittedly, she never enjoyed art classes in school, and her engagement with visual arts at Sacred Heart University is limited to one online course, Studies in Modern Art.
“I don’t really use art to express myself, but I know how important of a tool it is for others and their self-expression,” said Pierre.
Growing up, Pierre found drawing and painting assignments to be grueling, especially as she had never considered herself a “good” artist. However, she gained a new appreciation for visual arts during a high school photography class. Specifically, she enjoyed the process of developing film.
“We did this assignment where we had to use light coming through the window,” said Pierre. “So, I used my best friend as the model, which was fun.”
To her surprise, Pierre found a medium and a subject to express herself.
Although he is more interested in musical arts, such as playing the piano and making DJ sets, junior Cristian Triay is drawn to 3-dimensional art. It was at Norwalk Community College, in a prehistoric art history course, that Triay’s interest in sculpture peaked.
Despite not having much experience with visual arts, Triay appreciates the process of making art, especially the therapeutic aspects of the creative process.
He finds the intricacy of sculptures and molds to be fascinating; “Particularly ancient pieces where the techniques and technology used to create them were more primitive than what we have available today,” said Triay.
Perceived standards in the visual arts world may prevent individuals from getting their hands dirty and jumping at the chance to create.
“There are no rules for making art,” said Fernandez.