Business, nursing, teaching, accounting are all common majors in college. However, seniors Raelyn Browning, Bridget Callahan and Shayna Aigner have taken a different path. These three passionate artists choose to continue their love for art after taking numerous classes in their past four years at SMCHS.

Raelyn Browning’s love for the creative outlet started far before her years at SMCHS.

“I was 10 years old and I wanted to be president,” Browning said. “I decided that was too much work. So when I turned 11, I went back to art.”

Despite her drastic change in career choice, Browning’s parents continue to be supportive. Being artists themselves, they encouraged her to use her imagination at a young age.

“I’ve been drawing before I could even talk,” Browning said. “Other kids parents are doctors, while my parents tell me ‘I can’t teach you math, but here’s a crayon.”‘

Since picking up that crayon, Browning has taken Beginning Art, Painting, Photography and IB Art HL in her four years at SMCHS. Browning’s father was a high school artist and he is the one person who serves as her biggest inspiration to be creative. After graduating, he pursued a degree in illustration and eventually worked his way up to becoming a part of a video game design company.

“I really want to do that too,” Browning said. “I just want to work my way up and follow his footsteps.”

Callahan is following the artistic path of her long-time friend Cassidy Baine. Baine, nine years older and once Callahan’s babysitter, exposed Callahan to digital media. Callahan knew she wanted to pursue the same career.

“She’s my biggest inspiration,” Callahan said. “I decided that there’s only one thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life and that was art.”

Pursuing a career in art has already proven difficult in Callahan’s application process. In order to apply to UCLA, students must produce a piece of art that relates to a given color provided in an online prompt.   The students have two weeks to complete the project, and Callahan had enough time until she went to turn in her image. She noticed the color for the prompt had changed due to the school’s posting an earlier prompt in error. Callahan had one day to complete a project that would determine her entry into one of the best graphic design schools in America.

“I had to skip school to stay home and think of a whole different project,” Callahan said. “I’m now committed to UCLA.”

Aigner has also compiled an art portfolio in applications to Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Art and Design and School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. While she is not set on her school, she has decided that she would like to major in graphic design with a minor in sculpture or studio art. Aigner’s passion for art was discovered in a spur-of-the-moment trip to Michael’s Arts and Crafts Store.

“I remember going to Michael’s one day and I spontaneously bought a canvas and a beginner’s set of acrylic paints,” Aigner said. “Then I kept buying new mediums and sketchbooks and I taught myself how to use them.”

Aigner’s sculpture teacher, Todd Robey, also prompted her to find a place where she could relax and step away from the stress of her freshman year.

“I was so overwhelmed by all the new people and teachers,” Aigner said. “Then, I stepped inside the sculpture room and it was such a different vibe. The desks were covered in paint, there were cool art pieces everywhere, music was playing and it was just a really cool and creative environment.”

Although Aigner found refuge in the clutter of Robey’s  inspiring class room, she still felt blocked in her artwork. Surrounded by so much originality, she often found it hard when comparing her art with other students. Aigner credits  her close friends Sarah Hartmann and Alyssa Tucker with changing her perspective and influencing her to be confident.

“I have my days where I become super self-conscious because there are so many amazing artists out there and I think that my art will never be able to compete,” Aigner said. “[My friends] have taught me how to be proud of my art and not to be scared of criticism.”

Browning, Callahan, and Aigner overcame obstacles in their path to majoring in art. In the end, each one discovered their passion for creative fields where they could pursue their long time love of the arts.

Link to Shayna’s portfolio:

artbyshay.crevado.com