Ethan Peltier walks into the ceramics studio and is happy with the amount of freedom he has to do whatever he wants. Peltier is taking Ceramics One for the first time. He enjoys the class: “At this point in the curriculum, I am not making anything in particular. I just like working on stuff I’m passionate about.”

This semester upper schoolers are adapting to their second-semester schedule changes and new classes. Many students have decided to try out new art classes this semester. Art classes can offer a different format of learning during the day. The reasons why students choose to take art classes are different from person to person.

Sophomore Lucia Gonzalez is taking Ceramics One for the first time this semester. She has always found ceramics interesting.

“I really like that this class allows for freedom and the ability to be creative at all times throughout the class structure,” she said.

Gonzalez hopes to take Ceramics 2 when she can. Throughout the rest of the semester, Gonzalez is looking forward to finishing the teapot she is working on, and “seeing what my mind creates with my freedom.”

He also plans to take another ceramics class when he gets a chance.

Last semester, junior Ben Macedo took Ceramics 1. Macedo said ceramics taught him many fundamentals of pottery so that he was able to specify his interests into a subcategory while in the class. Because he enjoyed Ceramics 1, this semester he has moved on to Ceramics 2; fabrication, taught by US Fine Arts Department Head Daryn Lowman.

Macedo decided to take Ceramics 2 to have more freedom in what he could make, as well as he wanted to move on to making more advanced pottery. After being in Ceramics 2 for about a week, Macedo knew he enjoyed the options he has for projects.

Currently, Macedo is working on a mold project with coils extending from within. He notes that once you get to the more advanced ceramics classes, there’s a lot more creative freedom.

This semester Macedo is looking forward to widening the range of projects he does, as well as exploring new methods in pottery.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Thomas Kovarik

WORKING TO PERFECTION. Sophomore Lucia Gonzalez works on making her teapot in Ceramics one.