by Torie Richardson

Art teacher Theresa Wallerstedt has accepted two freshmen into her advanced drawing class in her 14 years of teaching. One of the two is freshman Sarah Ferron.

Ferron’s father told Wallerstedt his daughter was talented, and seeing her portfolio at freshman registration proved to Wallerstedt that Ferron already knew the basics of drawing.

According to Wallerstedt, main goals for the drawing I class include students being able to draw realistically and develop a personal style – two things Ferron had already demonstrated.

“I was very amazed,” Wallerstedt said. “She didn’t need to take drawing I.”

Incoming freshmen who want to skip drawing I should not only have the ability to draw well, according to Wallerstedt, but should also be familiar with terms such as perspective, color theory, composition and elements of art.

“I asked her all those things,” Wallerstedt said, “and she knew.”

Ferron wanted to use the four short years she has at STA to her advantage in terms of drawing.

“I wanted to be more ahead than what drawing I would get me,” Ferron said. “I wanted to be able to get as much as I can at St. Teresa’s.”

Ferron hopes to attend college and later draw professionally.

Senior Rebecca Ferron, Sarah’s sister, knows how much Sarah has planned for her future and how much she enjoys drawing.

“One time [Sarah] was looking at Pixar and all the amenities [the employees get],” Rebecca said.

Sarah is not just interested in the free cereal employees receive every morning, though. According to Rebecca, Sarah is serious about art and Rebecca “can’t imagine her doing anything else.”

Wallerstedt agrees that Sarah would be a “good fit” for Pixar, but would not limit her to one type of art.

“I think she could be an illustrator [or] work in graphic design,” Wallerstedt said. “I think she could be a fine artist, painting and drawing and selling her work. I think she’s capable of any of that.”

On Sundays, Sarah works with her dad, a toy designer, to improve her technique.

“[Sarah and my dad are] really serious about [art lessons],” Rebecca said. “[Lessons] are at least two hours every Sunday.”

Classes from her dad, her artistic grandmother and from a few other sources allowed Sarah to excel in drawing when she was younger, and Sarah now uses some of the same techniques in her class, according to Sarah and Rebecca.

Though the first day of advanced drawing was “nerve-wracking” for Sarah because she was intimidated by older students, Sarah likes the class because it is “independent and really, really focused.”

Rebecca hopes that Sarah will set the precedent for other talented students to enter advanced drawing as freshmen.

“I think that people who are really into drawing should know that they could test into [advanced drawing],” Rebecca said.

Though it may be irritating when Sarah keeps the lights on to draw when the family is watching movies, Rebecca admits her sister has a bright future, and is happy to be Sarah’s sister.

“I’m proud of her,” Rebecca said.