Outside In Art Perspectives

Lilly Orum

Contributor

It’s her freshman year, and Deseray Bautista is determined to make it count. Two years ago she was on track for a career in health care, taking high school programs and getting certifications for future internships and college classes. So when choosing classes for this semester, “I was hesitant about choosing an introduction to a class,” Bautista said. “I knew healthcare wasn’t for me. Art has always peaked itself into my life.” Realizing there was a decision to make, she was put on the spot and forced to confront her true desire. “It’s like, Deseray you were meant to create,” the artist exclaimed.

This summer Bautista traveled extensively. Before visiting Savannah College of Arts and Design, she had believed that art wasn’t something successful people choose for a career.  However, “Just being around that environment and seeing that it exists…,” a switch had flipped. Bautista knew she “[needed] to do this.” Her trip to Florence Italy is evident in the Renaissance inspired prints of magazines that she has chosen for a collage. “This reminds me of Capri, this reminds me of Florence,” she smiles, pointing to images she has selected. Bautista feels it is especially important that she approves of every part of what will go in her works of art. Luckily, Bautista has decided who she is and is confident in her personal style when it comes to art. “If something doesn’t align with me, I don’t like to glue it,” she declared.

Tara Key is also a freshman art student at NWACC. When it comes to any assignment, “I set my standards really high,” she said. “There’s rules and the boundaries we have to stay in to make it look right and so I do that.” The reputation of academic drawing and painting are upheld by Key because to her, rule following is a part of art. The contrasting of color and line, for example, are trusted and shown in her artwork. “I was homeschooled up until eighth grade. It was just me and the tv and my dog and my pringles.” Key is somewhat shy, but she has a natural creative spark that shines through. “I don’t wanna disappoint anybody I guess. And another part of me is I want to show off my art, but I try to fight myself and stay humble.” Key is excited about art class as well as the church youth group that she recently joined in Decatur. 

“I guess I’m quiet… I like talking to people face to face.” Introduction to studio art is the only in person class Key is taking this semester. “I’m looking forward to making friends and creating,” she said.