The art department is a fine art that helps students develop creativity, critical thinking and essential skills. Toni Goss teaches Sculpture I, II, III and Art I. Goss’ favorite medium to do with students is clay. She feels that it’s the most forgiving medium, and she loves when her students take in the creativity.
“My neurodivergent, ADHD and autistic kids have a great time with it,” Goss said. “Plus, it’s a great excuse to play with mud for no reason.”
Goss became a teacher in 2018. She graduated from Sam Houston State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Computer Animation.
“I see people create art and get excited, proud of what they’ve made, I just love it,” Goss said. “It makes me feel like I’ve helped them accomplish something. Also, I feel as if art is needed in school, just for a relaxer or to learn something new.”
Goss’ favorite ways to help students understand a medium are demos, hands-on practices and visually showing the medium during class while she talks about it.
“A lot of mediums inspire me to do what I do, especially the ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ franchise,” Freshman Haya Ahmed said. “The animation is gorgeous and the character design really motivates me to do better with my own personal style.”
Ahmed takes Art I. She took art her first year to replace band, but also because she does art and animation as a hobby.
“My favorite medium is paper, digital and anything that involves sketchbooks,” Ahmed said. “I also like to do things on canvases. I don’t really play with paints a lot, but they’re fun.”
Ahmed’s process starts off with her reference. She goes on Pinterest and grabs whatever inspires her. She doesn’t pay attention to the anatomy and she just establishes the basic form, then she finishes it off with basic color and details.
“Art is what comes from the heart, the soul, so you created it yourself,” Ahmed said. “I think that’s what motivates me a lot of the time because this is something I made. It’s my creation and that’s what makes it so special.”
Caption: Freshman Haya Ahmed draws in her sketch book, Ahmed is in Art I. (Photo by sophomore Nyla Powell)
