by Ten Bottemiller

New in 2023, Career Art has been added to Bellbrook’s class list. Suggested by Mrs. Newsome, one of Bellbrook’s two art teachers, the class explores topics such as tattoos, fashion, comic books, makeup, jewelry, and more with in-depth instructions on how to create within these genres. 

“I’ve had a lot of students ask what they can do with an art degree or what they should go to school for if they’re interested in art,” Mrs. Newsome said. “I’ve always told them there’s so many careers they can explore that require the creative skills you learn in art class and aren’t necessarily, like, a fine artist. So I thought maybe I could put together a course to help students explore that.”

“I took this class because I needed the credit,” senior Kellen Solomon said. “But it’s actually interesting and I have a lot of fun. I think it’s cool that we do stuff that isn’t just, like, painting and drawing.” 

So far, students have created applicable tattoos and comic books, but Career Art will delve into more unexpected occupations as well.

“One of my favorite units is the cake designing project, where we create cakes out of styrofoam. That’s a really good one,” Mrs. Newsome said. “I’m also going to enjoy the special effects makeup stuff we do in here, and maybe the floral design if we have time. I think those are my top three so far.”

Career Art students agree: Career Art is more interesting and diverse than other art classes at Bellbrook.

“I get to learn about art careers that I didn’t know were artsy,” senior Reggie Dailey said. They have taken every other art class that Bellbrook offers. “This class really helps you find out some career options that aren’t just sculpting and painting and what you normally think of when you think of art.” Dailey advises all students to consider Career Art, whether they’re artistic or not.

“I know people tend to think ‘oh, it’s just an art class,’” senior Paige Bourquin said. “‘You get a piece of paper or an easel and you have to follow directions.’ But this shows there’s so many ways to apply art to life. Like, you can be a tattoo artist, you can do makeup, you can be a comic illustrator; you can do so many things that involve art that isn’t just easel and paint.” 

“I think that if you go into this class with an open mind, you’ll have a better time,” Mrs. Newsome said. “Rather than going into it thinking for sure ‘I don’t wanna decorate cakes’ or ‘I’m not interested in fashion,’ go into it with an open mind. Because you might find it’s a lot more fun than you think and maybe you’ll open some important doors for yourself.”