By Devon McWilliams
Mr. Harris’ art class is starting off this year with a new project revolving around a big picture frame with different pieces of art textures. Every year students join Redwood’s art club and create diverse artwork. Harris vocalized his passion for art saying his happiness comes from teaching Redwood students about the beauty of art.
Photo courtesy of Donya Hassanshahi, Gigantea staff
Located in room 12 on the Sierra Vista campus of Redwood, Harris has his students create a variety of artwork, like line art, digital art, and 3D art.
Teaching art, to him, means more than just directing students on what to create, “Art is the only subject where you think for yourself. Rather than gathering data and throwing it back at the teacher, you actually have to think on every single exercise,” says Harris.
Students who struggle with stress from other classes can join art as an elective and socialize with other students about art and relax while working on a piece that they enjoy.
Vincent Barba, ’25 states, “Something I enjoy about Mr. Harris is his kindness. He is very patient and knows not everyone can create a masterpiece on the first try.”
Photo courtesy of Donya Hassanshahi, Gigantea staff
A passion for art is the ability to think and express thoughts through colors, shapes, and patterns. Whether that be something that you create digitally or through colors thrown on a canvas.
In order to fully understand art, you have to know the technical skills in order to communicate through art using different medias and being able to show your interpretation of love, spirituality, or create different worlds with internal meaning.
Most students join the class due to their own practicing of art and want to publicly show or learn how to level up those skills.
“I think the class has learned a lot from Mr. Harris, I honestly think many people in the class have potential to make great art,” says Barba.
Some of the projects within art are paintings on canvas, mural walls, or even digital art. Students can even create side projects where they create characters and form a story line digitally and work through a process each day.
Most of the time, Harris is there to support students and their ability to think as well as teach new forms of art that include different shapes, lines, and colors.
Devon McWilliams
Devon McWilliams of Redwood High-school (year '24) is a government and politics writer for The Redwood Gigantea. She is interested in Journalism due to her success in writing and English Language Arts.
Tags: arts and entertainment, redwood high school, redwood journalism