Students displayed sketches of loved ones, watercolors of Rome, and copies of baroque art for Alpha Rho Tau’s annual spring semester exhibit in the Fine Arts Building Feb 27.  

Senior Abi Palubinskas, president of Alpha Rho Tau, said exhibiting personal pieces encourages the honorary’s members who might not consider themselves artists to explore the art they love.

“The idea is to be fully integrated and fully interact with art itself, and be able to exhibit that,” Palubinskas said.

Members have freedom to choose whatever medium they like and take their personal time outside of class to create their piece, she said.

“Everything is done on their own time,” Palubinskas said. “You get a little bit more insight into what people love to paint and interact with outside of class, and an insight into their inner thoughts.”

Sophomore Haven Socha, inspired by Rembrandt’s detail and narrative, exhibited a mastercopy of Rembrandt’s “The Hundred Guilder Print.” 

“I think the humble setting was really what drew me to do this art the most,” Socha said. “I think it represents who Jesus is in a very truthful way.”

“The Hundred Guilder Print” was originally a detailed, crosshatched etching. Socha used charcoal for her master copy, making it more smooth overall than the original. Her piece nonetheless shows great detail in the found edges, and the background, which subtly copies the crosshatching in Rembrant’s piece. 

“I went into it with a learning heart,” Socha said. “The main thing I wanted to get from this was to learn how to draw better, to see better, and to relate lines to each other. There’s a lot of perspective differences from the layering of the people. Overall, the experience of drawing and relating shapes to other shapes and seeing the light from the dark left me in a very joyful mood.” 

Sophomore Maria Logvin joined Alpha Rho Tau this semester and has enjoyed being integrated into the art community on Hillsdale’s campus. 

“It has been a wonderful experience so far,” Logvin said. “It’s been really nice to network with other artists on campus, to see everyone’s niche within that.” 

Logvin drew a portrait of her boyfriend in his military regalia for the exhibit. 

“I’m a huge fan of regalia,” Logvin said. “It was great to depict someone who means so much to me.” 

Logvin said she used this time to test new drawing techniques.

“I used a different pencil grip than I normally do,” Logvin said. “It was a very experimental thing.”

According to Palubinskas, sometimes these exhibitions are the first time students have their work showcased for others to see. 

“It’s an amazing feeling to watch other people look at your work and smile, or maybe laugh, or have some thought about it,” Palubinskas said. “That is one of the most fulfilling feelings as an artist.”

Socha encourages other students to not give up on their creative passions. 

“I would just say in whatever art that you’re doing, keep creating and do it every day,” Socha said. “Keep practicing and you will become more passionate about it, and that will give you the joy that this piece really gave me.”