"I've always loved art and how it allows me to express myself and put my thoughts and emotions into something. I've always taken classes that have interested me, but none that I've really genuinely enjoyed taking. Taking drawing and painting 1 has allowed me to learn so many different forms of art and has expanded my knowledge on all of the different techniques you can use. Art has made a big difference in my life because it was always an outlet of expression for me. It allowed me to put all the weird thoughts that go through my head into something that feels productive. It's a source to relieve stress for me and temporarily allows me to forget about all my troubles."
-Jamie, grade 11
"Henry Matisse once said, "Creativity takes Courage". Taking art for the past two years of high school has been an up and down adventure, least to say. It was and is, a class that I look forward to having. In Drawing and Painting II, I gained much more insight on art and the infinite options one has to express themselves through it. The most important thing though was learning that risks have to be taken. Some pieces will turn out better than others and some will be worse. It is a constant reminder that perfection in the art world is not possible but improvement is always an option. "
-Neha, grade 10
"Art has been a great class in my high school career. It has been my favorite! I have learned to express my self through my artwork and colors. I have learned that art is not something simple that someone can whip out in a few hours, it takes time. Art is a way of communicating with people you may not even speak to on a daily. It creates an inseparable bond with peers. Art has taught me how to view and solve my problems. It has taught me that nor everything has a solution and that it's ok to start over. It has taught me to cope with patience and things I may not like. I have learned to be more patient with what I do and that sometimes things will not go my way but it's ok. Art has been a great course for me because it has taught me many personality skills/traits. It has made a better person overall and I am so glad I took art this year! It has relaxed me and took care of most of my stress by allowing me to express myself through color pencils or paint. "
-Natalia, grade 12
"This year in AP art I have learned how to do so many more things than I ever knew how to do. I learned about different mediums and what works best for each art piece. I also learned techniques that help me express my ideas on paper much better. I was able to move out of my comfort zone and learned how to create visual representations of something that was not concrete. This class has made me realize I had a much greater passion for art than I thought, and is what made me sure that I want to pursue a career in art. By taking this class I found out how much more important art is to me than I thought."
-Mary, grade 11
"Taking art in high school has honestly refreshed my view of not only high school, but also education. I came into art expecting to continue and to pursue an interest, but I left with the desire to chase and to go after my passions, hopes and dreams. Art has an effect on the brain that allows you zone in on a project and put your all and your everything in it, in order to have the best outcome. I personally took this aspect of art and reflected it back onto my personal life and created a new understanding of education over all."
-Tekoa, grade 12
"Taking art these past two years has been absolutely amazing. I've learned so much ranging from technique, to the best supplies to use, and even to time management. But above just making great pieces and being proud of the work produced, art has served as a stress reliever for me. Any time I had been in a very stressful situation, art was always my outlet. Being in AP this past year has made me grow so much as a person and as an artist. Without art, my highschool experiance would have been so much different and I hope other students have the same great experiance I did. Thanks for a great year!"
-Cindy, grade 12
"My high school career revolved around art. Art has shaped me into who I am. Art is more than just creating pieces to me. It has taught me critical problem solving skills and social skills. Art has given me several opportunities and has given me the chance to showcase my skills as well. I have won several awards for my art, such as Scholastic Gold Keys, A Governor's award, Congressional award, and First Place for the New Jersey Department of Human services Teen Media Contest. Art is a critical part of my daily life and every student benefits significantly by incorporating Art in their lives. "
-Priyanka, grade 12
"Taking art in high school gave me a chance to expand one of my favorite things to do. It taught me how to make better artwork by using different media. The AP Art class has impacted me as a person because it taught me to be more careful of deadlines and how to work on time management."
-Nikki, grade 11
"Art this year has been a unique time that truly can only be in an art class of this level (AP Art), be visual arts or otherwise. Looking back on my first couple works this year all the way through my last project, the improvement is astounding. AP art with Ms. Amme has given me knowledge of how several different media, taught me how to hone and utilize my strengths, and how to work on my weaknesses. This has allowed me to develop my skills in the fine arts greatly as a student the skipped over a lot of fundamental skills in Drawing and Painting II. While other student obviously had more experience, with Mrs. Amme's I never felt like I was at any sort of disadvantage, as she was willing to help every step of the way, but always left room for your own choice and creativity as any art teacher should. I owe so much to her and this class, without my portfolio from this year, I really doubt I would be on the road I am today!"
-Nile, grade 12