For freshman Evelyn Smith, art isn’t just an outlet for personal expression, but an opportunity to better understand and represent the student body. Throughout Smith’s middle school experience, she helped make school-focused art projects possible.
Smith has been making art ever since childhood, and has always had a creative mindset.
“When I create art, I have an idea. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but as long as I get my thoughts on the paper, it’s good. I heard somebody once say, ‘make it happen first, and then make it good later.’ I kind of live by that,” Smith said.
Mr. Daniel Masse, a sixth grade art teacher at Strath Haven Middle School, taught Smith in his art and connections classes.
“A lot of artists are very set in their ways and don’t take coaching. But, if I would feed her new material or give her a suggestion for a way to go with her artwork, she always did, so I thought she had a lot of potential to keep making herself better,” Masse said.
Since she was young, Smith had an imaginative feeling about her artwork that has since evolved as she explores different art styles. While she does like to create for herself, Smith is also described as being incredibly catered towards people around her.
“She’s given a lot of her creativity to our school, and I know she’ll keep doing that,” Masse said.
Through working with a picture-book author to make the drawings for a short story, Smith gained valuable collaboration skills.
“If I have the opportunity to create art for something or someone, I definitely do,” Smith said.
Specifically in middle school, Smith took on the task of creating her class yearbook covers in seventh and eighth grade. She was also actively involved in the art club and explored different media like 2D art and screenprinting.
“She printed a lot of T-shirts when she was in my screen printing club, so a lot of people are wearing something that she not only designed, but physically made,” Masse said. “So many people know and respect Evelyn for the creativity she’s given to our school.”
During eighth grade, Smith worked on a mural with freshman Jolin Chen, and they formed a meaningful connection through the art they made together.
“I would say she’s really funny, creative, smart, and overall, a nice person to be around,” Chen said. “Just be friends with Evelyn. I’m sure you won’t regret it.”
Smith’s fans believe she has the potential to make a positive impact on the high school community.
“She’s the kind of person who just walks into a room and brings this energy and creative vibe: her sense of humor, her way with people, and her way of giving away her creativity,” Masse said.
