At any given moment during period four, one might have the privilege of watching a masterful oil portrait being painted, a precise sketch being inked, a surreal ceramic being crafted, and the final touches being added to a digital illustration all at once. Under the tutelage of Ms. Fantasia, this year’s IB Studio Art 2 class is something truly special.
The class’s small size certainly does not limit the creativity exhibited by all five of its students. In alphabetical order, seniors Alina Luna-Baez, Beau Patrick, Charlie Lindsey, Dylan Parks, and Hudson Robina collectively make up the IB Art class of 2026. As they currently work on a piece inspired by the word ‘triptych’, each has provided a window into their individual creative processes.
Alina is inspired by much of what she sees online, whether it be in the form of YouTube videos or fan-made animated short films: “I think those inspire me because each one has a specific type of art style. I think it’s really cool, and so I always watch those in my free time.” This inspiration is certainly apparent to the casual viewer of her work; her expressive characters, vibrant scenes, and organic, flowering work are like sweet-and-sour candy for the eyes. Alina has been accepted into Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she hopes to continue pursuing art and character design.
Making a complete 180, Beau’s intricate pen and ink, Roy Lichtenstein-inspired drawings take a more personal approach in content. His reason for taking IB is simple, offered with a laconic smile: “I just like to draw.” He then expanded on his answer, saying that he wanted to learn more techniques and experiment with different mediums; pen, despite its simplicity, has remained his favorite. His extended theme reflects his complicated relationship with wrestling, an experience that is central to his creative process. “You know, it means a lot to me. It’s a big influence in my life, and it’s made me who I am today.”
Identity, like that of Beau’s work, is not an uncommon focus of many IB Art students, especially this graduating class. In Charlie’s personal portraits, like the one featured in this article and the centerpiece of the triptych assignment, life has an air-brushed quality. “I really am inspired by the work of Caravaggio, specifically because of the way he used realism.” Caravaggio’s influence, as a 16th-century Italian painter, is widespread, but few channel his essence into their work as powerfully as Charlie, who, even in the far more challenging acrylic medium, manages to depict subjects with stunning accuracy. When asked about future artistic endeavors, Charlie said: “I think I’ll always keep art as a hobby that’s very close to my heart.”
For those who have followed the arts at Mendham High for the past four years, Dylan Parks is not a new name; in addition to already having been featured in The Patriot last year, Dylan’s artwork for the Mendham Players’ fall dramas and spring musicals has been a staple of the theater’s culture, from promotional materials to popular merch. The inspiration for her work, as the culmination of what she sees online, like Alina’s, is a testament to the accessibility of art made possible through such social platforms. Aside from external influences, much of her personal work is reflective of her own experiences, she said. “My life, the time I spend with my friends, and the people that I meet are really what inspire me.” She also described the impact that seeing art in person has had on her as well: “I love going to museums. I went to the Whitney Museum in New York recently, and that was a really, really fun trip; just to be able to see all of the modern art that is being made in America is super cool.”
Hudson also shared the effect that his identity, combined with inspirations drawn from art world giants such as Andy Warhol, had on his high school art career. “My favorite subject is the LGBTQ community, which is definitely very clear in my work. But also, all the pop art, the style, that time in art has had an immense impact on me as well.” He also talked about the effect that visiting museums has had on him, not only from an artistic standpoint, but as a way of finding his passion for curation as well. Hudson shared that while he loves to create, in the future he plans on studying art history in college and then pursuing a master’s in art history and museum curation.
To capture all of the artistic talent and passion of this year’s graduating seniors would be a sisyphean task, but Dylan’s reflection seems pretty spot-on: “I think that this current studio art IB class has a really strong selection of high school artists, and really, what makes them so great is that they’re all just doing their own interesting things.” It appears that passion is the key to success.
