A student in Fabian Lopez’s (MFA Tyler, 09) painting class puts the finishing touches on a still-life. Her portrait and others will be on display during the annual Art Start closing exhibit at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 31 in the Tyler School of Art.

On Tuesday afternoon, several students in the Arts Start program stood behind large canvases set up throughout Fabian Lopez’s teaching studio in the Tyler School of Art, putting finishing touches on still-life paintings.

No two of the works look alike. Some of the colorful compositions are more abstract than others, but they all show growth and improvement, said Lopez.

“They are very talented and creative,” said Lopez, showing off a portfolio of his student’s work. “I wasn’t fortunate enough to have access to arts resources. It’s important for young artists to attend programs like this one. It helps them grow.”

Art Start was established in 1995 to address the lack of arts programming in local schools. High School students entering grades 11 and 12 who show artistic promise are nominated for the program by arts instructors and offered full scholarships to attend four weeks of studio arts classes.

The program provides local students with an opportunity to develop portfolio pieces in drawing, painting and sculpture, which organizers hope they use to apply to art school.

“Opportunities in the arts are not always accessible to urban students,” said Terry Putscher, director of Continuing Education at Tyler. “Through this program, students have a chance to refine their skills, expand their talent and learn how to use their creativity. It gives them the background they need to continue to develop as artists.”

In an adjacent classroom, another group of students worked to transform a pile of cardboard headed for the recycling bin into wearable works of art. Taneka Prince, a 15-year-old student at Bodine High School, sat quietly on the studio floor managing a glue gun as she worked to design a set of oversized ears using paint, beads and other found materials.

“I love art and I really want to go to art school,” said Prince. “I sketch and draw a lot but I’ve never experiment with different things the way I have during Art Start.”

Working outside of the box and allowing students to experiment with their creativity is what Art Start is all about, said Prince’s art instructor, Daniel Hoffman.

“I really want them to think outside of the normal definition of art, and break the mental barriers that say art is supposed to be a certain way,” Hoffman said. “There aren’t any limits or barriers on their creativity here.”

The annual Art Start exhibit and reception will be held at 11 a.m. in the Tyler School of Art. The event is open to the campus community.