Finding Her Canvas

Chapter 42

Lily pov

The second week of school had just started, and already I could feel the difference from last year. It was buzzing with excitement and a bit of nervous energy as everyone settled into their new routines. For me, the highlight of my schedule was always art class. I was particularly excited because Ms. Throne, our art teacher, had hinted at a big project she had planned for us.

When Mia and I walked into the art room that Monday, it felt like the calm before the storm. Ms. Throne was setting up some materials at her desk, and the air smelled faintly of paint and clay. The other students trickled in, chatting and finding their seats.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Ms. Throne called out as the last few students found their seats. She looked around the room with a smile. "I hope you all had a good first week. Today, I'm excited to introduce our first big project of the year."

The room went quiet, and you could feel the anticipation. Ms. Throne picked up a stack of papers and began handing them out. As she did, she explained, "This project is going to challenge you to think outside the box. I want you to explore a theme that is personal to you. It could be anything—an experience, a feeling, a belief. You'll use different mediums and techniques to express this theme."

As she handed me the project outline, I glanced at Mia, who was already deep in thought. I could see the gears turning in her head, and I knew she was as excited as I was.

Ms. Throne continued, "You can use painting, sculpture, collage—whatever you feel best represents your theme. This is your chance to experiment and push your creative boundaries. And remember, there's no right or wrong way to do this. It's all about expressing yourself."

She gave us a moment to read through the project outline before speaking again. "I'll be here to guide you and offer feedback, but I want you to take the lead on this. Think about what you want to say with your art and how you can use different techniques to say it."

The room buzzed with quiet excitement as everyone started discussing their ideas. I turned to Mia, who had a thoughtful look on her face.

"So, any ideas?" I asked her.

She nodded slowly. "Yeah, I think so. I've been wanting to explore the theme of identity, how it changes over time. What about you?"

I thought for a moment. "I'm not sure yet. There are so many possibilities. Maybe something about growth or transformation. I want to use different textures and layers to show that."

Mia smiled. "That sounds amazing. We could definitely help each other with ideas and techniques."

We spent the rest of the class brainstorming and sketching out rough ideas. Ms. Throne walked around the room, checking in with each of us, offering advice and encouragement. When she reached our table, she looked at our sketches and nodded approvingly.

"These are great starting points," she said. "Remember to think about how you can use different materials to add depth to your work. Don't be afraid to experiment."

As the class ended, I felt a rush of excitement. This project was going to be a challenge, but I was ready for it. Over the next few days, I couldn't stop thinking about my theme and how I wanted to represent it. I started gathering materials—different kinds of paper, paint, fabric, and even some small found objects that I thought would add interesting textures.

One evening, I spread everything out on my bedroom floor and started playing around with different combinations. I layered pieces of paper and fabric, experimenting with different colors and textures. It felt freeing to just let my creativity flow without worrying about making mistakes.