Second-year students from Buncombe County Early College turned a recent English class into an artistic adventure during a visit to the Asheville Art Museum, where they explored how color, texture, time, and place can speak just as powerfully as words.
Guided through the museum’s exhibits, students discovered how artists use visual elements to craft meaning, emotion and narrative, lessons that connected directly to their studies of storytelling and self-expression.
After taking in the artwork, students were challenged to translate their insights into their own creations by designing abstract self-portraits. Each piece reflected the individuality and imagination of its creator, turning the museum visit into both a classroom and a studio.
“Walking through the galleries was a different experience,” one student said. “I was inspired to use a lot of colors in creating my own self-portrait.”
For many, it was their first time stepping inside an art museum. They left not only with a deeper appreciation for art, but also with the confidence and excitement of seeing themselves as artists and storytellers.
