Youth Art Month

Southwest Missouri

Students celebrate Youth Art Month by sharing their artwork with everyone

There is a little bit of an artist in everyone

 Isabel Herrin, Cassville 8th grade, showing classmate Valentine Vang how to use the new medium gouache.



Mercedes VanWie, Monett, senior. Shows off a piece she has recently worked on.

Youth Art Month, YAM, which takes place during the month of March, is an amazing opportunity to experience art shows, exhibits, and art education from the youth in your life. Celebrate their art, celebrate other art with them, but make sure the youth in your life always has a fan in you.

The Cassville and Monett school districts took an opportunity to share their students' artworks and experiences in preparation of YAM, and now, it can be shared with you.

Liliana Burgess, a 10-year-old fourth-grader at Cassville School District, describes her journey into artistry.

“Art is something I think highly of,” she said. “It is not just a low-key hobby, it is something that brings me joy, and it is relaxing.” When asked why she loves art, Liliana had quite an interesting answer.

“There are no mistakes in art,” she said. “It may seen like it has to be perfect, but it doesn’t. It is better to find something unique, and you can build on that for yourself.”

Liliana said her mom and dad, some of her biggest fans, are in part responsible for her interest in art.

“When I was 2 or 3 years old, my mom would make organic painting projects that you could eat,” she said. “My dad used to teach me ways to make art, he taught me everything I know.” While she had a wonderful guidance, she also branched out on her own.

“I gather stuff from social media too,” Liliana said. “I like artists from Youtube, like @samdoesart. He helps you understand art and guides you on your own path.”

Usually, Liliana draws on a traditional sketchbook, but sometimes she uses a digital art via her tablet.

“I am really into anime,” she said. “But, I try to add new things, and I always try to find something unique.

“I don’t think I have a favorite piece because I have done lots of different things. But my favorite character to draw is Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul.'' Liliana said she like anime because there are many different ways to draw things.

“I usually draw characters that are well known,” she said. “But, sometimes I try to come up with original characters.

“When you start a new piece, you have to think about the different angles and how you are going to start. When doing the hair line, I learned that you shouldn’t make each individual strand you want to make it blockier, then build on that and add fly-aways. Then you add the neck. You have to remember depending on where the light is, that is where the shadows go. I like to draw the nose first because that really helps with proportions, then the eyes. I start with little circles and build on that. You don’t want to put the eyebrows too close to the eyes, that looks weird. After I add the mouth, I start to add freckles or glasses or something to make it personal. Then boom. You have a little dude.”

Even with the skill she has, Liliana has goals for skill she still wants to gain.

“I want to add more emotions and feelings into the drawings,” she said. “I like how you can tell what a character is feeling on a few details. Big eyes mean they might be scared. Then, when you look at comics, you can see that in the sizes of the boxes. If it is a big box that shows the scene, that means the character is aware of things around them. But a small box could mean there is deep emotions, or self-perspective.”

Liliana said when she turned 7 or 8 years old, she started to think more seriously about art as a career.

“I want to be an architect, but I still want to do more with art part-time,” she said. “There is a lot to art and how it can help people. I read an article that said doodling is good for your mind. It helps you remember things as you study, and doodling is art. Also, for people with mental conditions like depression, it is a great way to express your feelings on paper instead of trying to talk.”

Another Cassville student, 14-year-old eighth-grader, Isabel Herrin, has also shown a skillful interest in the art of, well art.

“Art is something I enjoy,” she said. “My mom likes my art, so I make stuff for her.”

Isabel enjoys two ways of producing her artwork.

“I like drawing with ball point ink pens,” she said. “And I also like water colors, pastel water colors.

“I like to draw people, faces and hands. I also like to draw plants. I make up things like a walking mushroom.”

Isabel remembers the first time she realized she liked art.

“It was the summer after 6th or 7th grade,” she said. “I got a notebook, and I carried it around all summer and drew in it all the time.” Isabel said she didn’t think she was bad, but she wasn’t great either.

“I am a perfectionist,” she said. “Sometimes I will cross something out just because I didn’t like the way it started.

“I don’t have any favorite artists, but I do like anime. If I see a style that I like, I try to do it.”

Isabel intends to use her skills after high school.

“I would like to go into animation when I'm older,” she said. “I know art was going to be in my life since middle school when I had that notebook.

“The feeling I get when I am drawing is calm. I kind of zone out everything else. I also like to draw when I am mad.”

Isabel said art is important for youth.

“It isn’t specific,” she said. “In school, we have subjects that we have to follow strictly. Art isn’t like that. Art is like music, there is freedom and you can do whatever you want.” Isabel said art isn’t the only way she expresses herself, she is in band.

“Art is important for children because it gives them an outlet for creative expression while teaching them how to solve problems,” Cynthia Holman, Cassville middle school art teacher, said. “By introducing students to various art mediums and processes we are giving our students opportunities to bring their ideas to life and learn through creating, which rates at the top of higher order thinking skills.”

Monett Senior, Mercedes VanWie, found her passion at a very young age.

At a young age I would color in coloring books and I always loved making my own designs inside the coloring book,” she said. “I have never stopped coloring or creating. 

“I like to draw fanart, fantasy and whatever I am feeling at the moment. “

Mercedes said her favorite artist is Leonardo Da Vinci.

“My favorite medium is drawing and designing digital art,” she said. “In my free time, I create graphic design images through digital art and small animations.

“Art is a great way to express yourself because it gives you an opportunity to explore and be creative. I don't believe anyone creates "bad art,” they just maybe haven't found their art style.”

Mercedes encourages others to find their style.

“When I work on an artwork, I get both excited and relaxed and especially when I put in my best effort,” she said. “Creating art to me is such a fun activity and it is compared to riding a roller coaster! I still love to color in coloring books and I think I will at any age. 

“I plan to continue creating art after graduation and would like to make a career through digital and graphic design art commissions. I am already involved in a few online communities that support my interest.”

Lorlai Schroeder, a Monett Junior, is also finding her own way as an artist. “Before I could speak, I was drawing,” she said. “I've always created art on my own and up to high school, I did not have art classes.”

One unique talent of Lorlai, is her ability to mix different mediums. “I enjoy working with a variety of media and often create mix-media artwork by combining two or more mediums,” she said. “I like to work with my hands, which is why I like to use clay, yarn, and other materials when making art. I also like to paint and draw and will often sketch my ideas first before I begin making my artwork."

Her favorite artist is Alex Grey.

“I believe that all youth should have the opportunity to express themselves through art,” Lorlai said. “By having art in school, it allows more opportunity for students to learn about the techniques and mediums in art that they may not learn outside of school.

“I also think art helps us all grow and learn about who we are as individuals through exploring our creativity. “

Lorlai said after high school she would like to continue her education in art therapy.

“[I’d like] the possibility of doing art as a career,” she said. “ I like to draw and paint landscapes, portraits and fantasy art.

“When I begin my artwork I am always excited! As I continue and progress with what I am creating, it tends to then calm me down and I often feel relaxed.”

Elizabeth Wallsmith, Monett high school art instructor, said the Monett high school art department provides an opportunity for students to develop their artistic style, cultivate their creativity and explore the world around them through art culture and inquiry.

“Through the art program, students will gain experiences by continuing their education in art courses that will help prepare them for additional art concentrations and careers in art,” she said. “Art is a real world experience.

“Learning by doing, [art] fosters decision making and perseverance, which students will gain as they continue to learn about art.”