Hen Hud Welcomes a Digital Art Studio

The Hendrick Hudson High School Art Department set a goal this past year to increase student interest in art. As part of that goal, art teacher Jessica Nash designed a “Digital Art Studio” in her classroom.

Now, thanks to a generous grant from the Hendrick Hudson Community Educational Foundation (HHCEF), student artists will have use of brand new equipment, including computers, digital cameras, lighting, and a large format printer.

Students will learn how to take professional photographs using the lighting system, work with graphicdesign programs in the Adobe Creative Suite (a collection of professional quality graphic design, art, and photography software) on the new computers, and print their work on a variety of surfaces, such as canvas or watercolor paper.

Mrs. Nash said, “This past year was the first year all of my AP Art students choose to do a ‘Design,’ instead of ‘Drawing,’ portfolio. To keep up with student interest I knew I needed to expand my traditional classroom into a digital art space. I am excited to be able to provide students with the opportunity to work with this new professional equipment.”

Nash continued, “It will be interesting to see student work printed large scale on surfaces we’ve never been able to print with before. I believe students will greatly benefit from my multi-use classroom containing computer printing stations and a photo lighting area, while also having access to traditional art media such as paint and drawing materials in the same space. We owe a big thank you to the HHCEF!”

The addition of this state-of-the-art equipment to Hen Hud’s already impressive offerings will enhance the District’s ability to provide real-world skills and experiences that students can use as they pursue their career objectives.

Photo Caption: AP Art student Kendal Kristiansen working on a stop motion video in a photo lab.