Finding Her Canvas

Chapter 32

Lily pov

The first thing I noticed as I walked into art class was the huge pile of materials in the corner. Ms. Thorne had mentioned that we'd be working on a big project for the football game, but I hadn't realized just how big it would be. I grabbed my usual seat next to Mia, who looked just as excited as I felt.

"Hey, have you seen all that stuff?" Mia asked, nodding toward the corner.

"Yeah, I wonder what we're going to do with it all," I replied.

Ms. Thorne clapped her hands to get our attention. "Good morning, everyone. Today, we're starting our float project for the big game. This is a chance to showcase our art and creativity to the entire school."

The room buzzed with excitement. I could already feel ideas swirling in my head. Ms. Thorne handed out a stack of paper and pencils.

"Before we dive into building, I want you to sketch out some ideas. Think about what themes you want to explore and how you can incorporate different elements into the float."

I stared at the blank page, my mind racing. I had been thinking a lot about my art lately and how it reflected who I was becoming. High school had changed me in so many ways, and my art was evolving with me. I wanted to create something that showed that.

"How about we do something that represents growth and change?" I suggested to Mia. "Like how we're all evolving."

"That sounds cool," Mia said. "We could use different elements to show different aspects of our identities."

I nodded, already scribbling ideas. I thought about how I had struggled to fit in when I first started high school, and how I had learned to embrace my unique perspective. My art had been a big part of that journey, helping me express things I couldn't always put into words.

As I sketched, I decided to focus on the theme of identity. I wanted to show how we're all made up of different experiences and perspectives, and how those things shape who we are. I drew a giant tree with branches representing different aspects of identity, like culture, hobbies, family, and friends. Each branch would be decorated with different art styles and materials to show diversity.

Ms. Thorne walked around the room, checking our sketches. When she got to me, she smiled. "This is a great idea, Lily. How do you plan to bring it to life?"

"I was thinking we could use a mix of painting, collage, and sculpture," I explained. "Each branch could have different textures and colors to show different aspects of identity."

"I love it," Ms. Thorne said. "It's a perfect way to explore the theme of identity and showcase your unique perspective."

We spent the next few days gathering materials and starting to build the float. It was a huge task, but working together made it fun. I painted the tree trunk with rich browns and greens, giving it a textured, almost lifelike appearance. Mia worked on the branches, adding layers of paper and fabric to create depth.

As we worked, we talked about our own identities and how they influenced our art. Mia shared how her Mexican heritage inspired her use of bright colors and bold patterns. I told her how my Italian grandparents had sparked my love of art with stories of famous artists and trips to museums.

One afternoon, as I was painting a branch, Ms. Thorne came over to check on our progress. "Lily, I've noticed that you're really digging deep into this project. How does it feel to express your identity through your art?"

"It feels good," I admitted. "I've always struggled with feeling like I didn't fit in, but art has helped me embrace who I am. This project is a way to show that."

Ms. Thorne nodded. "Art has a way of revealing things about ourselves that we might not even realize. Keep pushing yourself and exploring those themes."

As the float started to come together, I could see how each branch told a different story. One branch was covered in photographs and mementos, representing memories and experiences. Another was decorated with symbols and patterns from different cultures, showing the diversity that shapes our identities. We even added a mirror to one branch, symbolizing self-reflection and the way we see ourselves.

One day, while we were working on the float, I overheard some kids from the football team making fun of our project. They called it "girly" and "weird," and I felt a surge of anger. I had put so much of myself into this project, and their comments felt like a personal attack.

Mia saw the look on my face and put a hand on my shoulder. "Don't let them get to you. They don't understand what we're trying to do."

"I know," I said, taking a deep breath. "It's just frustrating."

"Art is about challenging stereotypes and expressing your truth," Mia said. "Remember why you're doing this."

She was right. I wasn't creating this float to impress anyone; I was doing it to share my perspective and celebrate the diversity of identities. I decided to use their negativity as motivation to make our float even better.

The day before the big game, we put the finishing touches on the float. It was a masterpiece of color, texture, and symbolism. I felt a sense of pride as I looked at it, knowing how much hard work and creativity had gone into it.

When the day of the game arrived, we paraded our float around the field during halftime. I could hear the whispers and see the curious looks from the crowd, but I didn't care. I was proud of what we had created. The float was a representation of all the things that made us unique and special.

As we walked alongside the float, I saw Ms. Thorne in the stands, beaming with pride. She gave me a thumbs-up, and I felt a rush of gratitude. She had pushed me to explore my identity through my art, and it had been an incredibly rewarding experience.

After the game, we had a small celebration in the art room. Ms. Thorne brought in cupcakes, and we all gathered around the float to admire our work.

"You all did an amazing job," Ms. Thorne said. "This float is a beautiful representation of your creativity and individuality. I'm so proud of each and every one of you."

As I stood there with my friends, I realized how much I had grown as an artist and as a person. This project had challenged me to look deeper into myself and to express my identity in a way that was authentic and meaningful. It had also taught me the value of teamwork and collaboration.

"To the best art class ever," Mia said, raising her cupcake in a toast.

"To art and identity," I added, raising mine.

As we ate our cupcakes and laughed together, I felt a sense of belonging that I had never felt before. Art had given me a way to express my true self and connect with others on a deeper level. I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would always have my art and my friends to help me navigate them.

That night, as I lay in bed, I thought about the journey I had been on. From struggling with my identity to creating a float that celebrated it, I had learned so much about myself and the power of art. I knew that this was just the beginning of my artistic journey, and I was excited to see where it would take me next.