Next school year, the campus will introduce a new Art 1 Specialized class for students to take.

Art 1 Specialized differentiates itself from the standard Art 1 by allowing students to jump into more advanced techniques and skills compared to the regular fundamentals taught in the original class.

“For Art 1 Specialized, those students already have experience in art and they already have a good feel for the basics,” art teacher Sarah Wyatt said. “We won’t have to hit them as hard, and we’re able to go into more in-depth projects faster.”

Applications opened on March 19 and are due May 2. Applications require a portfolio of up to three to six pieces of artwork provided by the student. One of the pictures must be an observational drawing, and it also must include preliminary sketches and relevant sketches.

Students often take Art 1 in order to fulfill their fine arts credit, even if they don’t have any plans of continuing with art in the future. This is one of the benefits of specialized art as art teachers can have a class of young and dedicated artists.

“I love my Art 1 students and I love being able to teach and help them,” Wyatt said. “But to have a student who already comes in with those basic skills and to be able to teach and develop the students, it’s inspiring.”

Because the class is being introduced this spring and starting in the fall, many previous Art 1 students wish that they were given the same opportunity.

“I’m so excited for all the new students coming that have something like that,” sophomore Charlotte Terrell said. “I wish they had something for art 1 like this when I was in it.”

Art teachers hope the new class will give younger students a jumpstart into their art careers.

“We’re just really, really happy that it’s finally happening,” Wyatt said.