By Dakota Vernezze, staff writer
Art is said to be an important skill with many benefits to the brain. According to befitbrain.com, art can help to relieve stress, encourage creative thinking, boost self esteem, and many other positive results.
General Studies junior Maylynn Thompkins is one of the many students involved in an art program here at Indian Trail.
“She does really good work. Excelling each year, doing more work than the assignments or projects, like when we have one project, she’ll have three done,” said Michael Schroeder, an IT art teacher.
Thompkins has participated in art classes through- out her school career. Starting in kindergarten, she has been painting, and even took a class on clay artwork. Between her friends and herself, they began doing art outside of class, which lead to her getting interested in her own artwork rather than teacher-guided work.
“I like realistic portraits of people. I can do landscapes too, but portraits are my favorite because I know mapping out their face and going through with the paint. It just turns out good to me,” said Thompkins.
She prefers working with watercolors and is inspired by her best friend and her cousin, who attends an art school. Her artwork has been featured in district art shows, and her poster was used for the Black History Month assembly that took place here at Indian Trail at the end of February.
Thompkins wants to continue in art after high school as well.
“I definitely don’t see myself stopping ever,” she said.