Seven seniors for Mount Vernon High School shared and sold their art at Abbe Creek Gallery Thursday, May 7, part of the senior art show.

Kaylee Kintzel said their favorite part of working with art, especially in stoneware, was just the different techniques that they were able to explore in creating art.

“Just learning different ways to create a piece and what I want to express,” Kintzel said.

Kintzel has taken the opportunity of the classes to find the medium they like working with the best.

Kintzel said they will be working with the family business after high school, but is also looking into getting a kiln and clay wheel so they can continue their hobby as well.

Ashley Trachta said her favorite part of working with porcelain and clay has been expressing things in different colors of glazes, especially in ceramics.

“I think I’ve learned a lot more about ceramics over the past year or two because of that experience,” Trachta said.

Trachta plans on going into the veterinary program at Kirkwood Community College.

W. Rose Daoud has loved working with acrylics and photography.

“I’ve especially loved Mrs. Ahrens guidance,” Daoud said. “She’s very firm, but she’s also really helpful.”

Her favorite to work with has been acrylic paints.

“I tried things like paper collaging and that just did not work for me the way acrylics have,” Daoud said.

Daoud will be going into massage therapy.

Topher Gaffney said he has loved expressing himself in physical form with many pieces of his art work.

“I feel there’s so much you can do with expression through colors,” Gaffney said.

Gaffney said they have worked with paiper mache and clay, but their favorite type of art is mixed media.

Gaffney is going to be looking into pet grooming and photography as career fields, so continuing to explore art after graduation.

Jae Williams said she has liked getting to work with all materials in her forays into art.

“I like that I got that chance to explore so many different techniques,” Williams said.

Williams said that they have loved working with graphite and mixed media most in art.

Williams will be going into sports engineering and using that creative design skills as they work on designing cars.

Grace Meier Gast said her favorite thing about art is the ability to reveal secret emotions.

“So many people find that love is one of those big emotions, but hate is another one,” Meier-Gast said. “I’m able to express that better in my art.

Meier-Gast is still developing her future plans after high school.

Two MV artists featured as All-State Artists

Cora Smith and Grace Meier Gast were two of eight individuals in Class 2A schools whose art was recognized as All-State Artists. All-State Art is a portfolio competition that awards the top high school artists and art programs in the state.

The awards ceremony will be at the Des Moines Art Festival on June 2.8

“It feels very rewarding to have my catalog recognized by the state, because so many of my pieces are not quite marketable or able to be sold,” Meier-Gast said. “To know so many people care about my art is very exciting.”