Art Student Rachel Maughan Shares Her Experience in the 2024 Department of Art Summer Intensive
Watch any video on student Rachel Maughan’s art Instagram and it's undeniable that she has been hard at work this summer mastering her craft. Maughan is participating in the BYU Department of Art 2024 Summer Intensive Program. This six-week workshop is an opportunity for art students at BYU to propose and create a large-scale work of art, receive faculty and peer critiques and have discussions off campus. The students are required to complete 30 studio hours a week where they work alongside studio mates to complete their project.
Maughan proposed nine large paintings representing agricultural laborers and their stories of work. Originally, she wanted to paint a lot of detailed, realistic figures, something that was much different from her personal style. “I had a very detailed proposal of what I wanted to do but I have changed it so much since then,” she said. “I recognize where my skill currently ends so I learned how to complete my proposal in a way that still excites me and that honors the work I’m trying to represent. I want to create something that makes my community happy.”
In changing the direction of her proposal, Maughan learned how to see things in a different way and to go with the flow. “I learned how to let the paint move itself and to be ok with making something different than what I had originally envisioned,” she said. “I’ve learned that if it is not the right time for a piece or the right audience, then it is ok to save it for later. Sometimes we have to take a step back and learn through the art itself.”
Maughan fully embraces what she calls “learner art.” This is art that may not be objectively good now but will help the artist create something better. She said that the summer intensive is a perfect place to experiment with learner art in order to improve and become a better artist.
For Maughan, working towards an art degree is about building a community that offers support and feedback. Having people who get to know your art at a deep level is an important aspect of the art program. “I wanted to do this summer intensive because I knew I would have the opportunity to be mentored and receive critiques,” she said. “I’ve been able to work with BYU art professor Peter Everett a lot. I appreciate him for telling me things I can work on and helping me foster ideas that I really enjoy.”
One way the Department of Art faculty are mentoring the students during the intensive is by leading day trips into the mountains and other local locations. By taking learning outside, the professors provide students with the opportunity to gain appreciation for nature and see landscapes in a new way. During these hikes, the group stops to discuss assigned readings and create art. Through these excursions, Maughan has learned to be more observant and respectful of the land.
Maughan’s classmates have played a major role in community building as well. “Everyone in the group is ambitious and is working very hard,” Maughan said. “I’ve never been around people this ambitious and motivated. It's nice to receive input from my studio buddy daily.”
Watching her classmates grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of the art intensive experience so far. Maughan views all works of art as a self portrait because each piece reflects the artist’s unique style. “Art is a way to see inside everyone’s minds because every piece reflects the maker,” said Maughan. “You see the person and the art growing. I’ve been with these classmates a long time, even before this intensive, and I’ve seen them grow in their art and ideas. I hope they’ve seen the same in me.”