Images provided by author.
A blank, dry canvas, suddenly splattered with paints of all different shades, smudged together to create a beautiful piece of art that means something important to the artist and sometimes a different thing to the spectator. The beautiful thing about painting is that although the viewers only know a small portion of the story behind why and how the painting was made, they don’t know the whole tale, and this is why art is an amazing way to express oneself. Every stroke of the brush symbolizes different things to the artist. As Edward Hopper, an American painter in the early 1900s, once said, “if I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.” The ability to express oneself onto a rough canvas is quite unique.
In previous years, the school has had many creative clubs: Origami, fashion design, even a coloring club. This year, the Painting Club has opened, and it’s a place where students get to interact with paints and express themselves through artwork.
Arshia Sharma, head of the club, states that being in a club helps the students tell their own stories and emotions in fun and simple ways. When asked why she had started this club, she said, “I just wanted to spread how fun [painting] could be ” and that she wanted to show people that art doesn’t have to be perfect or professional. It can just be something, “that you could hang-up in your room.” Aaron Lee, a junior and the President of the Digital Imaging Club, states that he joined just to “decorate my wall because it’s completely bland right now!” Aaron has not painted before, and prefers digital art, but is enjoying the club. When asked how it helped him, he said that the club is a calming and “stress-relieving” experience, and he encouraged people to join.
The art teacher and club advisor, Ms. Barncord, is quite pleased with the few meetings the club has had so far. She explains she agreed to be the club advisor because, “I love painting, and I have my own classroom this year!” Ms. Barncord is excited to see how clubs work from the teacher’s side, organizing and planning out the activities for the next meeting. She wants to see how different people and students project their emotions and situations in painting. “It’s interesting to see how the different students introduce their painting skills.”
The club is run in a freestyle kind of way, and students can do whatever they want. “I try to make it unique by letting the people pick what they want to [do],” Arshia stated. Instead of just teaching the students how to paint, the club allows them to express themselves however they want. It’s quickly filling up right now, but it definitely has space for many of you to join and brush up your art skills in any style you like!
Aisha Tarakji is a senior at Washington High School who was born in Damascus, Syria. She spent most of her childhood in both Damascus and Jordan. Aisha moved to Fremont, California, five years ago, and this is her first year as a journalist for the Hatchet. Her main interests are Washington High School's history and literature in general. Her hobbies include writing, crocheting, and a large variety of other quiet activities. Aisha hopes to major in English literature to become a successful writer and English teacher.