Nurturing passion: Jeanne posing with some of her art pieces.
PEACE comes in many forms. For me, art is one of them.
The strokes of a brush as it sweeps across a canvas and the mixing of paint in a messy palette are things that satisfy me deeply.
It always feels good to reveal the beauty of a finished art piece.
Each creation carries its own meanings and experiences, and a painting holds countless memories and imaginations from its creator. Every detail comes together to form a picture-perfect story.
Art helps ease my mind, allowing me to paint my emotions on a canvas. By the time I finish a piece, all my stress fades away, leaving a smile on my face.
My mother, an artist herself, has greatly influenced my passion for art. It’s a way for us to bond as we create art pieces together.
When I was a toddler, my mother taught me how to draw while feeding me, rather than giving me a mobile phone to keep me distracted. She handed me pencils and crayons to scribble on paper, which kept me engaged. This sparked my interest in art.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, my mother and I started an online art class called “Rainbow Artsy” for kids.
Our goal was to distract ourselves and others from the stress of being stuck at home, with no human interaction.
It was fun to teach and do art with a few of my friends and their siblings. It was a memorable and fun experience.
Last year, my friends and I worked together on a school art project to build a model of a park titled “4 Seasons” based on our imaginations.
We included a cherry blossom tree and an arched bridge for spring, a beachside with a coconut tree, lounge chair and umbrella for summer, a picnic table with pumpkins for autumn and a campfire with a snowman for winter. In the middle of the park, we placed a cute swing connecting all the seasons.
After adding lights and minifigures, we presented it to our art teacher, Mrs Noor Banon, who praised us for successfully depicting the four seasons in the park.
I was also involved in painting murals at my school with a few peers, focusing on an anti-drug theme. It was a new experience that showed me how art can make an impact on society, as murals often address current issues.
Art helps people view the world differently. It opens up various perspectives on life and highlights the beauty of creativity.
There are many other forms of art, including ceramics, glassware, metalwork and textiles, where artists use their imagination to create unique designs.
Art therapy is often recommended for people experiencing depression, trauma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities. This type of therapy helps individuals express pent up emotions without needing to voice them.
For educational purposes, art plays a crucial role in the progress of young students. It enhances communication, social-emotional skills and brain function. It also fosters creativity, which is important for developing imagination and understanding.
The advancement of technology has allowed artists to use digital platforms to improve their craft, saving time and money.
Museums and visual discovery apps also serve as great mediums for artists to share their work with others who have similar interests.
Despite this, the importance of art for children is still underappreciated in society. We should encourage kids to pursue art as a hobby!
Parents play a pivotal role in motivating children to expand their art skills. By sending them to art classes or even making crafts with them during the holidays, children will be inspired to pursue art as a fun hobby. As Picasso said, “Every child is an artist.”
Art doesn’t need to be perfect. Even an accidental spill of coffee on paper can be transformed into something beautiful with a little creativity. So, try to have fun with art!
Jeanne, 16, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 Using today’s newspaper, create a piece of artwork. When you are done, present it to your class and explain the inspiration behind your creation.
2 Choose a photo from today’s newspaper. Imagine it as a piece of artwork, then describe it to your friends. Have them try to guess the photo based on your description. The first person to guess correctly wins. Have fun!
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
