The ceramic students, learn many skills and talents throughout the year, building creativity involvement and ingenuity during eighth period. Students say ceramics’ class allows them to express themselves in ways that painting or drawing sometimes cannot.

From shaping clay to glazing finished pieces, each project becomes a reflection of personal growth and artistic exploration.

Ceramics teacher Veronica Millan, who has been teaching for about ceramics for over 12 years began, two of them at Pebble Hills, began her journey in college in 2012. She says the best part about ceramics is simple.

“I’m teaching something that I love,” Millan said.

Her devotion for art is clear in the classroom where she encourages students to explore their own ideas and develop their unique styles and give them a space to fully experience what art is all about.

“I let them be and create whatever they want,” Millan said.

In the classroom, creativity is very important. Millan allows students the freedom to create their projects based on their own interests. This open environment helps students grow not only technically, but also artistically.

Senior Michael Hernandez, has been involved in art for about six years and describes his creative process as thoughtful and detailed. Hernandez takes inspiration from photos or sketches and often takes his own photographs and has become on of the best students in the class.

“It’s a long process of going back and forth between reference photos and how I’m going to create it,” said Hernandez about his approach with projects.

At Pebble Hills High School, the ceramics program continues to play an important role in the fine arts department by encouraging creativity, building technical skills, and giving students the freedom to explore their own ideas, the class is shaping more than pottery, it’s shaping future artists.

All photos by Abigail Costa, Renata Acosta Fabiola Alvarado and Shaila Garcia