UCF students got the chance to release their inner artists at the “So You Think You Can’t Draw?” event hosted by Volunteer UCF on Friday.
Volunteer UCF’s arts and recreation committee hosted “So You Think You Can’t Draw?” for its Spring Art Series to encourage students about the importance of artistic expression and how art continues to evolve. The event gave students a hands-on opportunity to draw creatively on their own small canvas using Crayola oil pastels. The demonstration showed students how to draw a sunset, but students were not just limited to that, they could draw whatever they liked.
Amanda Brown, a senior and economics major, is the director for arts and recreation for Volunteer UCF. Her role involves planning service and educational events related to social issues within the community, especially the social issues that relate to arts and recreation.
“I think that art is a really awesome way of stepping outside of yourself and viewing the world kind of from your outside perspective,” Brown said.
This outside perspective, Brown says, gives people a creative outlet.
“You kind of step back and say how do I feel about this, what do I think is going on, and how do I want to show the world how I feel?” Brown said.
Brown explained that there are various ways to show that perspective, whether it be through photo representation of the world, or through one’s own personal meaning.
“I think everyone has the ability to draw, I think that we don’t always know how to see the right way,” Brown said.
Pooja Krishnamoorthi, a junior and biomedical sciences major, is a member of the arts and recreation committee, and shared similar sentiments about people who say they can’t draw.
“You may already be doing things that other people would say is art, but you may not feel is art,” Krishnamoorthi said.
Krishnamoorthi says art is something a person thinks about, something done on purpose.
“Even if you’re putting a bunch of colors different places, if you’re putting handprints different places, even if you feel like you’re just doing this randomly or whatever, it is a purposeful act,” Krishnamoorthi said.
Lameria Campbell came to the event after seeing it on the website. For her oil canvas drawing, she drew a sunflower.
“I’m not like interested in being an artist or anything, I just kind of like to come outside of my comfort zone,” Campbell said.
Campbell explained that she enjoys music too, and how both music and art give way to self-expression.
“A lot of times when we listen to music, we paint a picture in our head, especially with the lyrics,” Campbell said.
Michelle Grasso, a junior and health sciences student drew a quite unique painting on her canvas.
“It’s an eye seeing a vortex of things,” Grasso, said.
Grasso said the drawing represented someone who is confused or has a lot on their mind.
Christina Cajina, a junior and criminal justice major had the day off, so she decided to attend the event. Her painting was a sunset, using colors of blue and green.
“I can’t draw, I don’t care what anyone says,” Cajina said.
And though she may feel her drawing skills aren’t the best, Cajina shared what makes art so important.
“It’s necessary for the world to go round,” Cajina said. “It brings people together, it may show someone that they’re not going through something by themselves.”
