Along with traditional credit courses, summer school allows students to explore their various other interests and get creative.

That’s a driving principal behind Kristen Cochran’s classes this summer, introducing her kids to 2D and 3D art.

Walking into one of Cochran’s final sessions of the summer, her classroom is absolutely buzzing with activity. Some students are drawing, others are painting, and still others are working with sculpey clay, making bracelets or putting the finishing touches on a mask.

The class offers a lot of freedom for creativity, giving students instruction on the various types of art and, with summer school coming to a close, allowing everyone to dive into the projects they were most captivated by over these past several weeks.

Cochran is herself a Fountain Hills graduate, exiting with the class of 2009 and going on to Northern Arizona University. Most recently, Cochran finished her student teaching at the local high school and, this fall, she will be starting her own art program at Deer Valley Middle School.

“This is where I went to school and where I grew up,” Cochran said, explaining why she wanted to get involved with the local program.

“It’s a nice community where everybody knows each other. It’s a really close-knit community, which is where I enjoy teaching.”

Cochran said she was also drawn back to Fountain Hills because of the local art programs.

“We have wonderful art facilities here and excellent mentors I can learn from,” she added.

As for her own summer school course, Cochran said she and her students are having fun exploring a variety of mediums, starting out with color pencils and oil pastels before moving into water colors, acrylics and still life.

“Some of the kids have also gotten into other projects, making little sculpey figures, ceramics and friendship bracelets,” Cochran said.

“I’m letting them experiment with everything.”

Cochran took a moment to show off some of the sculpey creations, including a penguin, horse, dog and beads to be used in bracelets and necklaces. Across the table from her, two students were busy painting still lifes of ceramic sculptures sitting in front of them on the table, a fish and an odd creature with a gaping mouth.

At another table, one student worked on her ceramics project while several others chatted and braided their friendship bracelets.

Not just a learning experience for her students, Cochran said she’s gained a lot from her experience with the summer art program.

“I’ve learned how to build lessons for a diverse age group,” she continued.

“I have students as young as four and on the higher end of middle school. Building lesson plans for such a diverse group was difficult at first, but now I’m getting the hang of it.”

She’s found it inspiring to work with her more motivated students, as well as the ones that perhaps take a bit more convincing.

“Some students you kind of have to push to do certain works of art,” she said.

“But I’ve noticed that once they’re given multiple options, they always find something to keep themselves busy, learn from and enjoy.”

In the end, though, Cochran said she hopes her class has helped her students find a deeper love for art and its various forms.

“I want [my students] to be able to enjoy art and use it as a stress reliever,” Cochran said.

“I have a lot of students who take a lot away from their other classes and they use this class and art as a way to get rid of that stress. It’s nice to be able to give them an outlet for that while also giving them a place to explore the different mediums.”