When senior Abi Palubinskas sees the sunlight dance in the trees, or cracks in a stretch of pavement, she sees art. And when she stares into the eyes of a painted figure, she sees the soul of the artist behind it.

Palubinskas studies art at Hillsdale with a focus on painting and drawing.

This year, Palubinskas will serve as the president of art honorary Alpha Rho Tau.

“Being an artist can be lonely,” Palubinskas said. “We want to bring people out of their shell and give them a safe place to create.”

She said the board wants to focus on community building this year with monthly meetings, partnerships with other honoraries, and opportunities for artists to share their work and give and receive constructive criticism.

“Often the hardest part about making a piece of art is then showing it to someone else,” Palubinskas said. “It’s nice to have a community that you know you can trust.”

By the time Palubinskas arrived on campus in 2023, her brother, A.J., had become an integral part of the Hillsdale theatre program. The two are close, according to Palubinskas, and supportive of each other’s craft.

“When I ask him, he’s always willing to give me ideas for my own art, and I usually learn something new from his insight,” Palubinskas said.

Palubinskas also said A.J.’s presence on campus made her own transition from Arizona to Michigan not only doable, but joyful.

“He introduced me to tons of people, and just to see the impact he made on others I got to be proud of him all the time,” Palubinskas said. “People just loved his presence, which made me comfortable.”

Palubinskas’s presence had a similar impact on senior Catherine Schlueter. They had known each other for some time before spring 2025, but because they were the only two students registered for Teacher of Graphic Design Brian Shaw’s Graphic Design II course that semester, their friendship blossomed in their love for art and dedication to craft.

“That was an intimate environment and Abi gave such insightful feedback,” Schleuter said. “She has a gift for seeing the heart and soul of the artist.”

In addition to her artwork, Palubinskas has collaborated with artists in other media, including the filmmakers in the Film and Production Club. Last spring, she served as the art director on an upcoming short film directed by senior Josh Burnett.

“Abi was fantastic to work with: adaptable, creative, enthusiastic, and hardworking,” Burnett said. “The film revolves around art, and her work on production design was key to making the project possible.”

Palubinskas said it was a chance for her to give the audience an inside look at the life of an artist, a world of discipline, experimentation, and joy.

Schleuter said Palubinskas’s love for art invites others to join her in wonder.

“She’s intentional, she’s dedicated, she’s hardworking, but most impressive is her wonder,” Schleuter said. “The way she sees the world and draws others into that delight with her.”

Palubinskas said she will be happy to keep in touch with Hillsdale’s art department  and to perfect her craft upon graduating next spring, but she ultimately hopes to share her wonder with others. She said she plans to become an art teacher.

“Art is learning how to draw or paint. It’s learning how to see,” Palubinskas said. “Even if my future students don’t realize it until much later, they will carry with them an appreciation for beauty in the mundane.”