SchoolArts - May/June 2009

Advocacy
A Tale of Two Sisters

Ralph Caouette

It is always a pleasure having siblings in art class. Others agree, and often respond with “Wow, in art! They must be so much alike!” In one particular case, however, there were a few simi-larities, but nothing that couldn’t be explained by being brought up in the same house by the same parents.

Ann and Kate

These two siblings were five years apart, so they never overlapped in high school or middle school. Older sister, let’s call her Ann, and younger sister, Kate, if you will, both enjoyed art immensely. As a matter of fact, art was their subject of choice and both found ways to spend as much time in the art department as possible in each of their respective junior and senior years. However, Ann came to the department to hide away, be left alone, and jump into her work. Quiet was better. Kate preferred to be in the

art department with friends. She usually stayed in her circle, and hummed and talked her way through her work.

Ann’s work centered around patterns. The colors, lines, and shapes derived from her fascination with nature. She explored, doodled, schemed, and produced continuous fodder for her artwork in her investigative sketchbooks.

Kate’s work appeared to be more realistic, but was tinged with narrative. Kate ran through the usual honors curriculum and started to work more personally and with themes that expressed her feelings. Kate added to her own artwork by way of her sketchbook, and saved ideas for future graphic tattoos. Her work was more sporadic, whereas her sister Ann produced steadily and thoroughly.

After High School

Ann went to college with a few schol-
arships and with the goal of becoming
a textile designer. She finished with
honors and for two years, worked as
an area designer and taught design
at the regional craft center. Recently,
Ann landed a job
as a designer for a
well-known New
York design firm.
Kate is in her
first year at a
local college for

fine arts and has not lost sight of her goal of designing tattoos and body art. Both siblings received the same education; however, beyond the lessons, portfolio prep, and extracurricular work, each received different benefits and took different directions.