With the world facing a global pandemic, people are figuring out unique ways to solve problems that arise while stuck at home. For many students having classes moved to an online format is more difficult they would have imagined because they no longer have access to all the resources they would have back on campus. Students majoring in studio art concentrations have found it difficult working on assignments since they have been left without a space to embrace their creativity.
While on campus studio art majors are granted access to studios for their respective fields. Studio spaces allow students access to equipment that they may have difficulty accessing while away from campus. For students majoring in photography, Bradley University grants them access to spaces for film development and digital production.
Hannah Netherwood, sophomore photography major, said that being sent home has made it difficult to complete her studio lighting class because she no longer has access to a space dedicated to the craft.
“Just being at home by itself is challenging,” Netherwood said. I think at an art studio, at school, I just feel like my mentality is different. At home, it’s pretty hard for me to find the motivation to be successful especially when my whole family is here.”
Photography majors are not the only ones being affected by the campus shutdown. Alexis Johnson, sophomore sculpting major, has also experienced a change in her motivation when completing her work.
“I found the studio space to be motivating,” Johnson said. “Just being in the environment. Even if there is nobody around just the atmosphere of the studio was really nice to be in because it actually made me do work. But being home my mind is in a state of comfortability and I just don’t feel like doing work.”
The lack of motivation is not the only thing hampering Johnson’s workflow. She also said the lack of material makes it difficult for her to finish her projects how she would like. The sculpting studio on campus has all the clay and casting material she needed to create her works but with the campus closed she has now lost access to all those resources.
Art students at Bradley University are not the only ones having difficulties finishing up the semester. Nicole Tillberg a sophomore at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale has also found it difficult finishing up assignments as the semester comes to a close.
While at school Tillberg has access to expensive photographic studio lighting equipment. She said that she would spend most of her days in the studio trying to capture the right picture. But since she’s been home she has taken the liberty of converting her garage into a makeshift studio in order to complete her classes. Instead of spending all day in the studio she now has to do her assignments in two-hour increments because her family has to use the garage.
As the semester comes to an end, art majors are doing their best to finish up the year even under these unique circumstances.