By Abbey Snow
Virgin Valley High Art Students – Creative Success
Virgin Valley High students in art and photography classes have been busy putting their creativity to use at Mesquite Fine Arts Center exhibits to submit photos for postcard contests with the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum.
Tyler Roylance has been an art and photography teacher at Virgin Valley High School for six years. He also teaches ESL classes for parents at VVHS. Additionally, he teaches weekly art classes for adults at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center.
“We had artwork hung in the public library from November 2021 to January 2022,” Roylance said. “We also exhibited the students’ works at the local art gallery during the month of March. I have worked with Elspeth Kuta at the Heritage Museum with photo projects over the years for our students. Elspeth gets the community to vote on her work and we reward the best students. This year we made postcards for the Heritage Museum and the top three cards are sold there. »
The winners of this year’s postcard competition were from Virgin Valley High School’s photography class. The winners were: First place – Jessica Rosas; Second place – Yaleni Landeros; Third place – Haylee Ritter.
“I’m very proud of students who go the extra mile to challenge themselves,” Roylance said. “Photography lessons have been a CTE (university credit) course and will be until next year. Where I divide my time between art and photography, my CTE graduates are always a small group. The students I currently have who have completed all of the CTE requirements are Liliana Jimenez, Elizabeth Glammeyer (who is also working on a 2D AP design portfolio), Nayeli Andrade, and Leieste Macias. There is still time and I have a handful that I hope will also join these ranks by the end of the school year.
Roylance also has the largest group of APs (advanced placement) art students he’s ever had this year with 21 AP students. In previous years, he had two to six students a year in AP classes. Currently, his AP students are putting together their art portfolios.
“These kids are asked to do challenging artwork to show off their skills with multiple mediums,” Roylance said. “They take my reviews and show revision and improvement, as well as build two portfolios of their work and write about it.”
Roylance had two groups of students (62 in total) who worked together on a large project with the painting of a depiction of Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”. The painting was exhibited at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
Some of the students who worked on this project are: Matthew Ritz, Leslie Torres, Barret Lamirand, Martin Cordero, Gaby Villegas, Kali Evans, Liam Gutierrez and Emma Avila.
Matthew Ritz is an art class student who painted part of the Van Gogh project. He likes designing sets because it’s really open and you can always add something to it. He feels he has seen a lot of improvement over the past year with his art. He remembers first participating in “Art Sense” in elementary school.
“Art helps me relax and think about what I want to do. it helps me assess what’s going on,” Ritz said.
Leslie Torres is a student in art class who painted part of the Van Gogh project. She enjoys painting and using clay to create sculpted art.
“I love clay because I can put my time into the details and with 3D I can see perspective from all sides. Art for me can be a hobby where I focus. When I I focus on something, nothing else matters, and everything else just fades away and I can relax,” Torres said.
Barret Lamirand is an art class student who painted part of the Van Gogh project.
“I prefer pencils because I can correct my mistakes and if I’m happy with it I can go over it with ink,” Lamirand said. “I feel like I’ve improved over the years. Art is more like a hobby to do when I’m bored,”
Martin Cordero took art and photography classes and painted part of the Van Gogh project.
“I like taking pictures because for me I don’t draw well so it’s easier to express myself with a camera,” Cordero said. “Art is a good way to express yourself. It’s a good getaway.
Gaby Villegas takes art and photography classes and painted part of the Van Gogh project.
“There’s something about photography that’s so beautiful about capturing a moment in time in an image,” Villegas said. “It brings me happiness and gives me something to do in my free time. Photography helps keep memories for when I’m older.
Kali Evans takes art classes and paints part of the Van Gogh project.
“I love working with acrylic paint because I can take my time and layer it,” Evans said. “I think the art is pretty swag”
Liam Gutierrez is a freshman in art class who painted part of the Van Gogh project and won a local art competition in his hometown.
“I prefer pencil or digital work, but watercolor is also great fun,” Gutierrez said. “I often get lots of compliments on my art, and some of my works have also been exhibited at the local library. This class helps reduce stress and pushes me to do what I love. Normally, school isn’t the most enjoyable for me, but my art class gives me a chance to take a break and go on with my day feeling happy and invigorated.
Roylance has a group of photography students who put together a “Cars” exhibit for the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
Erikah Gutierrez is a junior taking Level 3 Photography and AP Art. She submitted a photo for the “Cars” exhibit for the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
“Art and photography don’t help me, they help others! Gutierrez said.
Maya Alonzo is taking Photography Level 3 and Studio Art submitted a photo for the “Cars” exhibit for the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
“I prefer painting,” Alonzo said. “It helps me manage my stress.”
Citlala Gutierrez takes Level 3 Photography and AP Art. She submitted a photo for the “Cars” exhibit for the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
“I prefer to draw because it gives me time to relax,” Gutierrez said.
Haylee Ritter is taking level 2 photography and a studio art course. Her entry in the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum Postcard Contest won third place. Although her photography won the postcard contest, she prefers drawing and feels that it helps her learn more and improve her skills.
Emma Avila is a second year student taking level 2 photography and art classes. She painted part of the Van Gogh project and submitted a photo for the “Cars” exhibit for the Mesquite Fine Arts Center in March.
“I love doing surrealism and minimalism in photography,” Avila said. “For art, I generally like to do conceptualism and surrealism.”
She plans to present her works at the Virgin Valley Artists Association exhibitions and competitions held at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center. VVAA memberships are available to high school students.
“I have a handful of kids in every class who fill me with pride and hope for the future because they’re making the most of their lives and doing what I ask of them,” Roylance said.
Tyler Roylance’s art students who painted part of the Van Gogh project (Photo credit: Tyler Roylance)
The ‘Van Gogh – Starry Night’ finished painting alongside the ‘Cars’ exhibit on display at the Mesquite Fine Arts Center ( Photo credit: Tyler Roylance)
Postcard Contest Winners: (L to R) 1st Place – Jessica Rosas, 3rd Place – Haylee Ritter, 2nd Place – Yaleni Landeros (Photo Credit: Tyler Roylance)
