AP Art Studio Models in the Classroom

Ashley Repar, Senior Staff Writer|September 8, 2015

Masterpieces created of model, McKenzie Miller, by Mollie Johnson (left) and Hadley Chillura (right)

AP Art Studio students definitely know how to spice things up in the art room. The five seniors currently enrolled in the class, Natalie Cevallos, Hadley Chillura, Grayson Garraty, Mollie Johnson, and Alessandra Tanase have been basing their newest practice sketches off of a live model during their set 2 class.

Miller has been participating as a model for the class for almost five days now, and still enjoys it! — Miller has been participating as a model for the class for almost five days now, and still enjoys it. Credit: Hadley Chillura

The students have been creating many different types of drawings, such as figure drawing and line and contour sketches, with inspiration from their live model, McKenzie Miller. Every class, the girls set up their easels in a circle around McKenzie and begin their work. A live model helps them learn the properties of drawing and the proportion of the human body. When they first started with the quick sketches, they used pencil or sharpies, and then slowly ventured into using charcoal or ink for a more dramatic look to the piece.

One of the "quick" drawings by Natalie Cevallos. She sketched this in less than a minute — One of the “quick” drawings by Natalie Cevallos. She sketched this in less than a minute. Credit: Ashley Repar

McKenzie is posed by Sister Lisa, the AP Art Studio teacher, and the students have less than one minute to draw her for each pose she creates, this allows for a production of quick, rough sketches by all the students. Senior Natalie Cevallos adds, ” AP Studio is very unique in the sense that we have the opportunity to sketch a live model. By utilizing a real person rather than drawing from a picture or memory, we gain an advantage in capturing the true form and proportion of a person.”

Alessandra Tanase and Mollie Johnson (right) used sanguine to create these unique portraits of McKenzie. — Alessandra Tanase (left) and Mollie Johnson (right) used sanguine to create these unique portraits of McKenzie. Credit: Ashley Repar

Since the work occurs with the students sitting in a circle, each student draws a different angle of McKenzie, causing everyone’s work to look different. Upon asked how she liked being a model Miller comments, “I actually enjoy it a lot! It is very interesting how the girls can draw these somewhat detailed pictures of me and I love to look at them and see all the different perspectives,” If this is any indication of how the year is going to go, Academy should get excited to view these seniors’ upcoming projects.

For more information on the AP Art Studio class itself, ask one of the girls or talk to sister Lisa.