Our ALC students are creative, talented, and passionate about expressing their ideas through visual art! Read on to see some examples of our 2022 graduates’ work, and learn about what they are studying in university. For more information about our ALC program, please contact Selena Liss, Program Coordinator. For guidance on university pathways following your studies in ALC, please contact Pauline Grégoire, Academic Advisor.
Raven Li
Where did you go to high school?
Kells Academy.
What will you be studying at university?
I am going to Concordia University to study in the Studio Art program. I am looking forward to developing my skills in the fine arts and to explore different styles.
What was your favourite part of being in ALC?
It is a small program, so the connections between students are very strong. My classmates are very open and nice, and the professors are kind and enthusiastic about art. I enjoyed all of my studio art courses, and especially Digital Art as this is the area that I want to specialize in, and particularly in character design.
What would you like to tell us about the artwork you’re sharing here?
This is a piece that draws on fantasy horror and surrealism, which is quite in line with my preferred style. I am quite surprised that I have done it because I hate myself somehow, so I don’t really feel good about painting myself. Working on that piece is more like a chance to look into myself and accept who am I as a human. I like eyes so I did a lot of eyes in the background.
Stefano Mancini
Where did you go to high school?
Laurier Macdonald High School.
What will you be studying at university?
When I first came to Marianopolis, I was not quite sure what I wanted to study in university, but as time progressed, I became interested in becoming a teacher. I am going to McGill University in the Kindergarten and Elementary Education Program. I am looking forward to studying the elementary curriculum and learning how to provide a safe educational environment for young children.
What was your favourite part of being in ALC?
My favourite aspect of being in the ALC program was meeting students who have diverse interests in the realm of art. I also enjoyed being in a small program, which meant that it was easy to get to know the people around me.
Did you have any favourite courses?
I had two favourite art courses at Marianopolis. In Materials and Methods, I learned how to use mineral spirits with oil pastels, and in Drawing, I have learned how to draw cast shadows and shade objects to make them look three-dimensional.
What project are you most proud of?
One assignment that I am proud of was a drawing that I made in Selena Liss’ Drawing class; a pair of scissors. Although it was simple, I was very pleased with how it turned out.
Arevig Nahabedian
Where did you go to high school?
Collège Sainte-Marcelline.
What will you be studying at university?
I’ll be going to Concordia University, in the Computer Science and Computation Arts joint major. I’m really excited to learn more about the world of programming and computer science and math while also undertaking digital art, 3D modeling and the like.
Why did you choose ALC at Marianopolis?
I wanted an art program where my options weren’t too limited. I’ve never been one to know exactly what I want to study, so having the option to pick my classes at Marianopolis won me over.
Did you have any favourite courses?
There was a set of classes all ALC students have to take: Perspectives in Art and Literature. Before coming to Marianopolis, I wouldn’t say history was my favourite course topic, but getting the chance to learn history through the arts became one of my preferred areas of study. I got to learn how intertwined art and architecture really are to our history; artists have impacted society in a more important way than any regular history textbook makes it out to be. I also liked the variety that my art classes provided. Not only did I get to learn and try out new mediums, but I created finished projects. I learned how much I love drawing with charcoal, creating sculptures and arranging collages.
Jinghan Peng
Where did you go to high school?
Westmount High School.
What will you be studying at university?
I will be studying Environmental Design at OCADU (Ontario College of Art & Design University). I did a lot of research to make sure I was choosing the right program: I read many books, watched many documentaries, and visited many websites of architects and architecture schools. I found that the more I got to know about this area, the more I liked it. I really enjoy trying to work with different materials and building models, and I’m really interested in designing creatively for the future.
What was your favourite part of being in ALC?
ALC in our school is a very small program, so everyone in this program knows each other. Every semester we always have at least one class together, such as the Perspective in Arts and Literature courses and the ALC English course in the third semester. In this program, students have many different interests, such as studio art, film, or creative writing. Another advantage of a small program is that professors know us well. Sometimes I had the same teacher for more than one semester. That makes it easier to communicate and get support. I think being in a small program made it feel like a family and made for a memorable experience for me.
Did you have any favourite courses?
I really liked Painting, Medieval and Renaissance Art History, and 16th-19th Century Art History. I liked Painting because I want to improve my painting skills, and I learned composition, colors, and different styles of painting from this class. I love all the fine art classes here because all the teachers are nice. I also like art history classes because I love learning history from different periods, all the research and discussion, and the large number of interesting artworks and artists’ stories that we see every class.
What’s your favourite kind of work to do?
At the beginning, I preferred to do drawing and painting, because I had been learning them for many years and I felt safe working with them. But I tried many new materials in the past two years, like making 3D projects and digital works for my Materials and Methods and Digital Art courses. After two years of studying in ALC, I changed a lot and I jumped out of my comfort zone. I now enjoy making 3D projects and I started creating some conceptual work that allows me to express thoughts and feelings.
Chester McCarthy
Where did you go to high school?
Royal West Academy.
What will you be studying at university?
I’m going to be studying Design at Concordia University.
Why did you choose ALC at Marianopolis?
I found that a lot of similar programs at other colleges required you to choose one art form from the start. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do in the future yet, so I thought the flexible ALC program at Marianopolis would be the best place to work that out.
Did you have any favourite courses?
I’ve really enjoyed my art courses and having so many classes in common with my fellow ALC students and getting to know them. In particular, I learned a lot in Painting, and what was most important to me was learning how to render light and shadow with colour. It really sparked an interest in colour in me.
What would you like to tell us about the artwork you’re sharing here?
This was an assignment for Painting. Initially, the prospect of doing a self-portrait was intimidating, but by the time I was done it had become my proudest piece. It felt like a bit of a turning point, if not in my abilities then in my self-confidence, which led me to continue to push my skills further in painting, and in digital art on my own time.