Arts Student of the Week: Arabella Snyder

According to arts educator Crystal Hinds, Arabella Snyder took the Niwot High School Art Department by storm, taking as many classes each semester as her schedule allowed from the start of her freshman year.

"She is dedicated, full of energy, helpful and respectful," Hinds said. "She is a natural born leader and has taken a directing position in the student run Art Club. Ara will always volunteer for more art related activities, and fund raising for various causes."

Hinds selected Snyder as Arts Student of the Week. Snyder has had a great deal of fun trying out many kinds of art at NHS. She has learned new creative skills, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, and much more. "I always feel welcome in our lovely art classes," she said, "and I feel that I have been able to expand my creativity to new mediums. Associating with other artists also brings out the best in my creative process."

NHS has provided Snyder many opportunities to create, her teachers have been very supportive of her passion for art, and she has appreciated the advice her teachers have given her. "She is a strong presence in the art department," Hinds said. "Even in her sophomore year, I cannot wait to see how her career here progresses."

Some of Snyder's oldest memories creating art are from a time when her father would paint and build things with her. She has always loved the process of making something and knowing the product was made with her own hands. "What I made didn't matter," Snyder said, "as long as I got a chance to share my ideas with others."

Snyder's elementary school ensured that students had art class at least once a week, and made sure they used a variety of materials. During middle school, she learned color theory and had an Art Focus class where she spent two class periods in a row focusing on the arts.

"I can never seem to choose a favorite artist," Snyder said. "I have always enjoyed pieces such as the drawings in DaVinci's sketchbooks, Van Gogh's many sunflowers, and pieces from Polina Bright's flower blinded collection." An artist she met in Santa Fe, Dienke Nauta, is also a favorite, using unique techniques that Snyder finds inspirational. "Of course, I am also quite partial to my father as an artist. I love the Denver Art Museum, and I have had many happy moments there."

Recently Snyder's piece, "Paint Myself Into History," was displayed in Ana's Art Gallery in Boulder for a Frida Kahlo event. In addition, she has won a Gold Key award by the Colorado Art Awards when her art was displayed in the Denver Art Museum.

Snyder admits that she creates art because there are so many ideas and emotions in her head that she simply cannot express with words.

She wants to make pieces that express something moving for her audience. "I want to create art that stirs the hearts of those who look at it. I create art because I cannot live without it, and the fact that art is almost always shared makes a unique community of creators and viewers. Art is one of the few things that is uniquely human, which is so important in this era of automation."

Recently Snyder volunteered to become the leader of the NHS Art Club. She wants to have a space where people can share their work and get valuable feedback from other artists, go to museums, share and build on ideas, and create a community centered around this beautiful thing called art. "I have found it a challenge to get everyone on board with a lot of ideas, and leading is always hard when everyone wants to be a leader, but I hope that I can aid other artists through my hard work."

While art mishaps always provide memorable experiences, Snyder thinks meeting some of her friends and bonding over their love of craft have created some of her favorite memories. "A standout moment might be last semester during finals," Snyder said, "when me and my two art buddies were struggling to finish our pieces, and I nearly fell asleep at my desk."

When she is not creating art, Snyder loves to play music on her cello or ocarina, sing, and dance. She enjoys playing video games, but she enjoys playing board games even more. She loves to write stories, and she loves cars and driving. Most of all she loves spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

After high school, Snyder plans to start her own business. "I have an amazing concept to help artists," she said, "and it will work in perfect harmony with my art career. All I know for certain is that I will never stop creating."