2025 Art Student of the Semester

The Visual Arts Department is proud to recognize Jaxon Collins as Student of the Semester for his high standard of excellence through engagement, positive attitude, and quiet focus in the ceramics studio. His work shows exceptional precision, from his technically masterful nesting bowls to his ambitious current project—a realistic bison set among pine trees. Jaxon brings positivity, reliability, humor, and even great music to the classroom environment. His kindness is evident in the support he offers others, including helping our foreign exchange student feel welcomed. For his artistry, dedication, and determination—especially in persevering with the potter’s wheel—it is my honor to recognize him as Student of the Semester. Way to go, Jaxon!

AP Studio Art Drawing – Portfolio Progress

Our AP Studio Art Drawing students continue to push their creativity and craftsmanship... They’re now diving into their sixth portfolio artwork, exploring new concepts and refining their individual styles. Looking forward to sharing more of their work soon!


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2025-2026 Ceramics I Class

The gallery showcases the creations of first-year ceramics students, pinch projects, wheel thrown projects, and coil building works. These initial projects serve as the foundation for Ceramics II, where students can explore projects that reflect their own interests and artistic direction.


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AP Studio Art Drawing – Second Project Update

Our AP Studio Art Drawing students are making great progress on their portfolios! Each artist is developing their ideas and techniques as they move into their third and fourth portfolio pieces. Stay tuned for more updates!


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Drawing I Colored Pencil

Students in our Drawing I class recently wrapped up a unit focused on colored pencil techniques. As part of their exploration, they created detailed colored pencil drawings of apples on black paper, candy with foil wrappers on toned paper, and irises on illustration board. This project emphasized the art of layering, with students carefully building up multiple layers of colored pencil to achieve smooth blends and realistic tones inspired by resource photographs. The class’s hard work and attention to detail are evident in the examples below!


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Drawing I Ink Drawings

The first few weeks of Drawing I are all about ink drawing! Students explore the art of hatching and cross-hatching — using lines to build up value, contrast, and depth. It’s a great way to practice control and precision while learning how light and shadow bring drawings to life. Our artists have really taken to the challenge, turning simple lines into stunning, detailed works. Check out some of their amazing ink pieces below!


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Art Department Student of the Month

The NCHS Student of the Month program recognizes students who demonstrate strong character through their attitude, respect for others, dependability, hard work, and self-discipline. For October, the Art Department is proud to recognize sophomore Scarlett Hopkins for her positivity and dedication in Drawing class. Scarlett gives her best effort in every piece she creates, consistently going above and beyond expectations. She is a shining example of what it means to be an engaged and expressive student artist. Congratulations, Scarlett!

Congratulations to Ethan Stanford, Class of 2028!

Ethan’s design was selected by the NCHS Boosters as the winner of this year’s Spirit Wear Design Contest. His artwork will be featured on upcoming Newark Spirit Wear — keep an eye out for it soon! Way to go, Ethan!

AP Studio Art Drawing – First Projects of 2025–2026

Proud to showcase the very first works from the 2025–2026 AP Studio Art Drawing class! This year’s group is especially exciting, as it marks the largest AP Studio class ever offered at Newark Community High School, with 10 of our most skilled and dedicated art students participating. Over the course of the year, each student will create a series of 12 artworks centered around a theme of their choice, culminating in a finished portfolio.

Our students are already off to a strong start, exploring a wide range of creative directions, including: Baseball, A Year of Traveling, Psychological Horror, Uncommon Mythical/Folklore Creatures, Animals, Poems Visualized, Prehistory, Dementia, Growing Up, and Pets: A Personal History.

We invite you to check back throughout the year to see how these portfolios develop. And be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, May 15, 2026, when we will host our annual Evening Art Celebration—a showcase of their tremendous accomplishment.


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Art Students Bring Home Sandwich Fair Ribbons!

Congratulations to our talented NCHS artists who participated in the 137th Annual Sandwich Fair!

Each year, the Sandwich Fair Board invites junior artists to showcase their creativity, and our students rose to the challenge with submissions ranging from ink to graphite drawings and paintings.

Jacob Seyller earned a First Place Ribbon for his ink drawing “Johnny K’s”, Eastin McBroom received a First Place for his landscape pencil drawing, and Ashley Najera Zamora won First Place for her landscape oil painting.

In addition, students were awarded Third Place Premiums, including Evan Sittler for both a colored pencil drawing and an ink drawing, Jacey Johnson and Shawn Seyller for their graphite drawings.

Way to go, NCHS artists! A special thank you goes out to all who participated—your creativity and effort make our school shine. Don’t forget to enter your artwork in next year’s Sandwich Fair for another opportunity to share your talent and earn recognition!

Jacob Seyller, Class of 2026

Ashley Najera Zamora, Class of 2028

Eastin McBroom, Class of 2026

Shawn Seyller, Class of 2027

Jacey Johnson, Class of 2028

Evan Sittler, Class of 2027

Evan Sittler, Class of 2027

Sophia Solis, Class of 2026

Ashley Najera Zamora, Class of 2028

2025 Graduation Program Cover Design

Congratulations to Nora Berisha (Class of 2025) for creating the cover design for the 2025 Graduation Ceremony Program. Her graduation cover, featuring a dock stretching toward a glowing sunset, symbolizes each graduate's journey ahead. The dock invites students to step into the unknown with courage, while the sunset marks both an ending and a new beginning. Its warm tones inspire reflection on past growth, and the solitary path suggests the importance of individuality. The calm water and natural setting remind us that growth takes time and comes with quiet strength. Altogether, the image captures a hopeful, transitional moment filled with possibility. Way to go, Nora! Special thanks to Mrs. McCoy, Ms. Akre, and Mrs. Nuzzo for their efforts in ensuring the project's success!

Art I Dream Room Project

The following gallery showcases the final drawing projects of Art I students, who designed their dream room using two-point perspective. Two-point perspective is a technique that allows artists to depict three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface, incorporating mathematical concepts like lines, planes, angles, and similarity. This method helps artists understand visual space and connect mathematics with visual art. The drawings were evaluated on perspective accuracy, detail, neatness, and originality.
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Ceramics II Spring 2025

This gallery displays Ceramics II student's work, demonstrating their project-based skills acquired in Ceramics I. From clocks to plates and birdhouses, Ceramics II fosters creativity using this three-dimensional medium.


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Drawing II: "My Theme" Drawing

In Drawing II, students were challenged to create an Advanced Placement Prep drawing for their final project, creating cohesive artworks from original resources based on their chosen theme. This unit focused on developing a main topic and subtopics, where each piece reflected a subtopic of the overarching theme. Throughout this process, students advanced their composition, color theory, and drawing techniques while learning to express complex ideas visually. This exercise not only sharpened their artistic skills, but also prepared them for the demands of AP Studio Art.


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2025 Student of the Semester

The Visual Arts Department is proud to recognize Sophia Solis as Student of the Semester for her exceptional artistry, dedication, and creativity. Sophia is focused and positive, and draws daily in her sketchbook, even creating and gifting unique characters of her classmates—some of which are now displayed in the art room. Her strong skills in both realism and character design have resulted in multiple high-quality “Varsity” pieces and two spots in the inaugural Little Ten Art Show. Sophia’s commitment sets a high standard and inspires those around her. Way to go, Sophia!

An Introduction to the Art of Perspective Drawing

During the spring semester, Art I students were introduced to perspective drawing, a technique used to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. Students developed their skills through lessons on one and two-point perspective. Utilizing shading techniques learned in the first semester, they enhanced the three-dimensional effect, adding depth to their artwork.


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Painting II Album Covers

Students in Painting II recently completed a creative and personal project in which they designed and painted original album covers inspired by a song of their choice. The assignment challenged them to visually reimagine their selected song, incorporating painted imagery and handwritten or stylized lyrics into the final composition. In addition to exploring connections between music and visual art, students also integrated a Spotify song code below their artwork. This unique feature allows viewers to scan the code using the Spotify app and listen to the song that inspired the design, creating an interactive experience. The project encouraged students to think deeply about mood, symbolism, and visual storytelling while experimenting with painting techniques and composition.
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Agenda Book Design Contest

Students in Computer Graphics class recently participated in a design contest to create the front and back covers of the school’s agenda book—a student handbook that includes a calendar and school rules. Using skills learned in class, students incorporated strong typography, school branding, and the required anti-bullying pledge into their designs. The winning covers were selected by a panel of office secretaries, the principal, and superintendent. The following designs are finalists in the contest, showcasing the creativity of our students. Check back to find out who won!


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Restaurant Take-out Boxes

Students in the Computer Graphics class recently put their design and typography skills to work in a creative product design challenge—developing take-out boxes for fictional restaurants aimed at adult consumers. Each student randomly selected a restaurant name from a hat and built a brand identity from the ground up, including a custom logo, typography, contact info, and social media links. They designed every panel of the box—from top to bottom—with careful attention to detail and visual unity. The final results showcase both technical skill and creativity, and students had a great time bringing their imaginary restaurants to life!


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Painting II's Biggest Challenge Yet

The Painting II class represents the most experienced artists at NCHS, having completed the prerequisites of Drawing I, Drawing II, and Painting I. I often refer to them as the "Varsity Starting Lineup" because of their dedication, skill, and artistic growth.

For this project, they faced their most ambitious challenge yet: creating an "epic", "large-scale", "museum-quality" painting of personal significance. No small feat, but they rose to the occasion, producing the masterworks you see here. Each piece reflects not only their refined technical abilities but also deep personal meaning. These paintings, measuring up to 18" x 24", are statement pieces—worthy of a future place of honor in their homes, whether in an entryway, foyer, or gallery wall! Their work speaks for itself—bold, expressive, and undeniably Varsity-level!


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Drawing II: Dictionary Design Drawing

In Drawing II, students are challenged to create a cohesive artwork based on four words that share the same letter. This exercise encourages students to explore creative ways of combining different visual elements into a single piece of art. By focusing on a specific set of words, students are required to think outside the box and stretch their imagination to produce an artwork that tells a story or conveys a particular emotion or message.

Through this exercise, students practice their skills in composition, color theory, and drawing techniques while also developing their ability to convey complex ideas through visual art. This exercise serves as valuable practice for students pursuing AP Studio Art, where they will be challenged to produce a portfolio of artworks that demonstrates their mastery of various mediums and techniques.


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Cereal Box Design Project, Computer Graphics Class

Students in the Computer Graphics class recently put their typography and design skills to the test with a fun and engaging product design project—creating their own cereal boxes! Each student randomly selected a fictitious cereal name from a hat and brought it to life by designing a unique mascot, crafting custom typography, and carefully considering the color scheme, layout, and spacing between visual elements. Every detail, from the front and back panels to the sides, top, and bottom, was thoughtfully designed to create a unified and visually compelling package. As you can see from the results below, the students’ creativity truly shined, and they had a fantastic time bringing their cereal brands to life!


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Inaugural LTC Art Show!

Congratulations to Jaxon Collins, Scarlett Hopkins, Easton Kempiak, Jacob Seyller, Hannah Severson, Evan Sittler, Sophia Solis, Kaden Stanford, Daniel Venegas, and Rylie Young for participating in the inaugural Little Ten Art Show, held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Somonauk High School.

The event featured over eighty works of art from eight high schools in the Little Ten Conference. This non-juried exhibition coincided with the Little Ten Band Festival, culminating in an evening band performance.

Stay tuned, as this event is sure to grow in the coming years! Next year’s host will be Serena High School.

Special Thank you to Mr. Ulrich, Mrs. Gummerson, Mr. Langhoff, Mr. Benson (Somonauk), LTC Principals, Ms. Kempiak (Somonauk), and Ms. Symoniak (IMSA) for making this show possible!

View selections from the show through this Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G450X3GRXBEBsc7fb-H6Y7K8tOorYN2v?usp=sharing