Creativity at UWG Is Honored

Clint Samples, an associate professor of art at the University of West Georgia, drives home a very important point to his students: revise your work.

It’s his way of making sure they always present their best. His students have gone on to success. That shows through in one of Atlanta’s most prominent events, the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

This year three of his students are in the running in the race’s t-shirt design contest.

All took his Digital Media for Artists class last fall. They are: Caitlyn Weathers, 22, a senior; Clarissa Robinson, 24, a junior; and Mallory Royal, 22, who graduated last year.

It’s no easy feat. The Atlanta Track Club gets many designs before the five finalists are chosen. For Samples it’s an unprecedented accomplishment: this is the fourth year his students have been finalists. In 2011 the winner was Jessica Ferguson and two of her classmates were finalists. The 2010 winner, Allison Bennett, was also Samples’ student and three of her classmates were finalists. Two of Samples’ students were finalists in 2009.

Still, he always prepares his students for possible rejection.

“It’s like entering an art exhibition. There’s always a chance of rejection,” Samples said. “That’s something you have to live with as an artist. We have been blessed. We’ve had this great run of designs. I always try to use the previous years as a challenge.”

The accomplishment says a lot about UWG too. This is a school that honors creativity, where students get the support and encouragement they need.

To see all of the designs and to vote go to:

http://ajc.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=50735.

One vote can be cast per day.