Livingston Academy Students will have the chance to experience Artists in School, as the Overton County Arts Council Program returns the program after a successful spring semester run.
Arts Council President Tim Richardson said the program brings practicing professional artists to the school library for a few hours as they create a painting or two from scratch. Richardson said art education is a piece of the Council’s mission since the school system has limited resources for the arts.
“We’re trying to supplement that, enhance that, and try to give these kids an opportunity to interact with art and artists that they simply otherwise wouldn’t have,” Richardson said. “And we just firmly believe that that’s going to help them grow as people, help them broaden their horizons, and help them pursue things that they’re passionate about.”
Richardson said while the artists paint, they may speak about their career, inspirations, and how they make the jump from from amateurs to professional artists. There are currently three artists scheduled for the program this fall.
Richardson said art is an important piece of education. He said it demonstrates the importance of appreciating the world as it is, as well as to slow down and experience the moment.
In capturing those moments, Richardson said artists pay attention to how the light shines on an object, or the way an animal moves. He said noticing these details can help students appreciate the world in a way they never have before.
Richardson said the artists who come make spontaneous paintings look easy, as they likely are in the habit of creating art from scratch every day.
“It’s like second nature to them,” Richardson said. “And for someone who’s not an artist like myself or these students looking on, it’s miraculous to see this happen. It seems like magic to all of us as we’re looking on, just to watch this beautiful work of art emerge from a blank canvas. It’s quite stunning to see.”
Richardson said he hopes students realize that people are making a living as professional artists, just like people do in other jobs.
“If there’s a spark within them, if they have a creative side to them, I hope it sort of inspires them to lean into that and respect that,” Richardson said. “And maybe take their own creative inclination seriously in whatever that might be, whether it’s music, dance, theater, or visual arts.”