As you walk into the Bryant High School art club room, pencils are scratching rapidly across paper, paintbrushes tapping against jars while students share ideas and trade their casual sketches for competition-ready material. With the AYAA (Arkansas Young Artist Association) state competition on April 10 at the Hot Springs Convention Center, Bryant’s creative minds are locked in a race against the clock, perfecting everything from intricate oil paintings to original pieces. The Hornets are ready to make their mark on the state.

For students like senior Kennedy Henton, the president of Art Club, focus doesn’t come from silence; it comes from noise.

“I watch things like Super Nanny or Worst Teens of America; the noise helps me think…or I’ll listen to a lot of music,” Henton said.

Senior Ottis Harris, who has been doing the AYAA competition for 3 years, explained that, while the art room can get hectic as deadlines approach, students don’t always have to rely on that energy to succeed. 

“There’s a buzz time to help prep, but you can really get it done on your own,” Harris said.

Even though there is a designated time, some students choose to do it during school during that time made for them, while others prefer to work another time when they can focus more easily. No matter the setting, the goal remains the same, making and perfecting their work until it meets competition standards and represents their best effort.

As the April 10 competition approaches, the mix of different work styles shows in our art community, from students who thrive in a lively environment to those who create their best work in quiet spaces. Whether surrounded by classmates or working solo, students are finding what works best for them as they push to create their strongest pieces for AYAA.