By Nakiya Flores Posted June 4, 2015
Armando Vaca is extraordinary, he thinks outside the box and he works hard in everything he does.
Vaca is a member of the Art Club and has taken classes such as Advanced Art and Ceramics. He is a talented senior with a lot of dedication to his craft. Vaca is always on top of his assignments while still being involved in the Art Club. He simply cares about and enjoys doing what he does.
“It’s not every day you have a student who desires to be pushed and challenged and who seeks out suggestions the way Armando always has. He is a very creative young man and his drive will take him places,” said Anderson.
Vaca has been working on a mural in the shop building this year, he is painting a military theme to represent soldiers. Also, in ceramics, he has been working on a teapot and matching cups. He is glazing the teapot white and spray painting a colorful image on the side.
“It’s truly an honor to be performer of the year, honestly thought my good friend Brycen Prokasky would have gotten it, so I’m a bit surprised. What’s been a success and a struggle this year is trying to come up with new and creative ideas for every project, some days it’s like I can fill a sketchbook with an overactive mind, but other times I have to search and be inspired to make a sculpture or painting, its really a constant back and forth but something wonderful comes out at the end,” said Vacca.
Also, when Vaca and Prokasky were coming up with an idea for the mural, Prokasky sketched similar ideas, being a supply area. Mr. Anderson noticed this and thought that their different art styles would blend well. Throughout the year there have been many people that have inspired Vaca to do better or just notice some things he has never noticed before.
“What inspires me are my friends. I’m always learning from them and their art styles. The perfect example of this is my best friend, Mackenzie Manley, she’s my biggest inspiration for more than art, Mackenzie has taught me how to be, not only an artist but a better man. There aren’t words to describe how great she is or how amazing at what she does, she is a hidden gem in the art department,” said Vaca.
His favorite art project all year has been between ceramics and Advanced Art, he had put together a mask. After he had made the plaster base he had to figure out a way to make his mask light up and make sure his mask also looked good. Vaca wired an LED and battery into his mask.
“After trial and error I eventually got everything to work together and look like one solid, functioning mask,” said Vaca.
Right now he is currently in the process of joining the military, the United States Marine Corps, and afterward he is thinking about going to Full Sail University or a cinematography-related school.
