By: Ivy Stallone

Pottery, photography, dance, singing, drawing, crochet, knitting, etc. are all forms of art that allow people to express themselves creatively. Art has always had and will continue to have a significant impact on people of the world. From pieces like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa in the Renaissance period, to pieces like Banksy’s Girl with Balloon, works have not only reflected the artists’ emotions and values, but also reflected the significance of the time period and impactful events that occurred. 

Drawing connects people together. Especially because unlike other forms of art like pottery or crochet, everyone knows how to draw. However, technique and expertise allows for a simple drawing to become a beautiful and impactful art piece. Isabella Ferrari, a Syosset freshman, shared her process of creating art, “I figure out what I’d like to draw and in what type of style. Then I lightly draw a rough sketch of what I want to draw in pencil and then go over it with an outline and clean it up  a little bit, then once I’m ready I add color using markers or watercolor as a solid color base, then I add colored pencil to add shading and depth. Sometimes I add a black outline in pen or marker if I feel it will bring the drawing all together.” Whether it’s photorealism, caricature, surrealism, animation, abstractism or just a simple sketch, you follow a process in whatever you create. Even so, all artists sometimes face a creative block. Describing her sources of inspiration, Isabella said, “nature, my interests, and the internet.” Like Isabella mentioned, the Internet on sites like pinterest can help inspire not only artists but people in general. 

Another way to create art is through photography. Today, it is easy to take a quick photo with your phone and not think about it much. However, in the past they used methods that were much more complex for the photographer. Heliography, daguerreotypes, calotypes, ambrotypes, ferrotypes, and cyanotypes are all early methods of photography that involved capturing light on coated metal or glass plates. Isabella Sagles said, “photography is a good way to capture a moment, like a memory holder, and you can be super creative with different aspects.” She makes a good point that unlike drawing or painting, photography is a good way to quickly capture a memory or an important moment of your life. People today definitely take photography for granted, especially since some may not know the specifics of the history of photography. 

Lastly, crochet is another form of art and it has become extremely popular in recent years. Crochet was developed at a similar time period as photography, which is the early 19th century. Crochet has become popular among many people because you’re able to create your own fashion pieces, it has therapeutic benefits, and it is a fun way to express yourself artistically. Crochet’s popularity in recent years derives from social media, specifically during COVID when people were looking for a creative hobby. Risa Ellenwood said, “I love that I have so many possibilities of things to make ranging from flowers, clothing, to other useful items.”