Since August senior Ryan Sites has held the status as the sole student enrolled in the Art IV course.  This unique placement allows Sites many freedoms.

“I get to choose whatever art project I want to do after consulting with Mrs. Graham,” said Sites.

Sites came to be the only Art IV student after his decision not to tackle the Advanced Placement art course following his successful completion of Art III.  Sites’ decision stemmed from his disinterest in the class’ quick pace.  Art IV allows Sites to create AP-level art in a more malleable time frame.

While Sites is the only Art IV student, he does not complete the course in an empty classroom, rather he is incorporated into an Art III class.  Throughout the class Sites diligently works independently.  Even though he does not mentor his fellow art students, his peers have taken notice of his presence and skill.

“I am jealous of him, as he creates his own rubric and has his own artistic freedom,” said junior Elizabeth Harp.

Throughout his time in the class, Sites has constructed a mask and completed a drawing.  He has plans to create a print featuring a fist and and also a project involving an altered box.

Sites’ interest in art can be attributed to to the artistic talent his father and three older brothers exhibited in high school.  Sites draws inspiration for his art from films such as “Ghost and the Shell” and music of various styles he deems “unclassifiable”. Sites’ work is a direct reflection of his interpretation of the audio art that guides him.

“He has a very unique style.  It is difficult to classify because his style varies,” said Harp.

While it is evident that Sites holds tremendous talent in and offers a unique point of view to the realm of art, he simply exercises his abilities in school and has no intentions of pursuing art beyond high school.

“Art is just something to do in school.  I do not pursue it at home,” remarks Sites.