Hello! Paige is a sophomore Art Therapy major minoring in both Art History & Psychology. I met Paige last year through some of the foundation year art classes and got the privilege to watch her create some beautiful work. Excited to be able to showcase her pieces and artistic insight as this weeks spotlight!
MEET PAIGE:
Name: Paige Owings, Class of 2019
Major: Art Therapy
Minor(s): Art History & Psychology
I am majoring in Art because I believe self-expression is one of the greatest joys in life
Learning different processes ranging from ceramics to figure drawing has expanded my ability to express myself creatively, and I also find the processes of art making to be extremely therapeutic.
The kinds of things that inspire me are my own experiences and seeing others struggle with things such as mental illness, substance abuse, self harm, and trauma. I aim to bring attention to the things society does not want to talk about though my art. I know it sounds pretty dark, but I face every project with the mindset of healing, not with the mindset of harm, and that is what makes my work have so much meaning to me.
My favorite class so far was Basic Ceramics. Matt Povse was my instructor, and he pushed me to do new things with clay that I had not before, or that I was afraid to do. All throughout high school I absolutely hated throwing on the wheel, but Matt helped me to create some pieces I was very proud of on my old worst enemy. I feel that I had created the most successful pieces out of all of my classes in this course.
When I’m not in class, I spend a lot of time studying, sleeping, and eating (the basics). But I also enjoy sketching in my free time to alleviate the stress of a busy week, and knitting. On the weekends, I enjoy taking long walks outdoors playing Pokémon Go and surrounding myself with great people who inspire and encourage me to make great art.
The coolest thing I’ve done so far was a series of non-objective paintings that I am currently finishing up in my Painting II class. It is a continuous long painting broken into eight canvases that abstractly depicts the emotional journey someone struggling with mental illness or a form of self-medication goes through on a normal basis. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of it yet to include, but I am very excited to see the final result all come together!
When I graduate, I plan on going on to get my Master’s Degree, but after that, I am not quite sure where I will end up! With a career such as art therapy, it is important to gain exposure to all different types and age groups of people before making a decision. I am keeping an open mind!
I’d recommend the Art program at Marywood because their art department is not an afterthought or add-on as it was at many schools I have visited. The Arts program at Marywood is a cornerstone to the university, and it is treated as such. The arts faculty are all incredibly talented and experienced and only want to see their students succeed. At Marywood, I feel like part of a family, and that’s a unique experience to feel.
SOME OF PAIGES WORK:
Thank you Paige for sharing your work with us this week! Your work is very powerful and meaningful and will continue to have an impact on others. Thanks again!
See ya!