Senior Owen Berreth is a very creative person. He is a person who likes to take ideas and learn new techniques to improve himself in whatever way possible. Using what he’s learned to create or transform things into art. After the cancelation of many of his classes and the boredom he felt being trapped at home, he decided to create new works of art using what he had. 

With more time because of the quarantine, Berreth was unsure of what his senior year would look like going forward. Although the pandemic would put a halt to his senior year he was determined to make the best of the situation and find new things to stay invested in.

Starting during Spring Break Berreth began to upload daily pictures of his creations on his Instagram. Garnering lots of positive feedback he decided to continue his art projects, which started out as just a hobby. 

“I think it’s just something fun I can do while being stuck at home, it’s something I enjoy and it’s a distraction from everything else right now,” Berreth said. “I’ve always loved to just make cool things and this gives me an opportunity to do so now that there’s nothing else to do.”

He came up with the idea of his latest artistic adventure after seeing a YouTube video, which is how most of his projects start and deciding that he would give it a try. The process involves using stencils and layered paint to create an aesthetic in his art. He took spray paint and used printed out stencils and duct tape to create different figures into one of his pieces taping sections off to create different layers and depth in his art.

“It’s a process of creating the layered effect and discovering what I’m going for with each piece It’s not hard but not easy either,” Berreth said. “I like to put a specific design into each one and make each unique.”

Berreth is not only gaining entertainment from the art he makes in his free time. He is also able to improve, which can be seen in his art, from his first painting to his newest work he has been able to change and innovate in his process to improve his creative skills. 

“I think it’s a good way to spend your time while isolating yourself,” junior Ryan Buchanan said. “He’s really really good at it, too. I like his style of art. It’s very creative and pretty.”

With the troubling times we live in, Berreth is able to give people a glimpse into his life and what he is doing. He is inspiring people to do new things and be more open to finding new hobbies. It gives him a way to still have a senior year and has allowed him to do more.

“I feel like my art improves as I go on and am able to implement a different and better way to do things each time,” Berreth said. “It’s not what I thought I would be doing a few months ago, but it’s giving me a chance to just improve myself.”
With the times we live in most of us are just coping with the situation. So for Berreth to be trying his best to be productive especially with him being deprived of his senior year. It’s a definite shift that has changed the way Berreth has gone about daily life as it has for most of the people his age and everyone for that matter. Unlike others, though, he has found a good way to occupy his time and stay productive. He’s been given an opportunity for creativity and self-improvement. Learning and doing something he enjoys showing that you can be creative and stay at home.