Sending pieces of art will soon be easier for students at West Marshall High School.

The Community Foundation of Marshall County awarded the school a grant of $600 to create a digital portfolio studio. The studio will allow students to take photos of their artwork with the proper lighting and texture needed, and create a digital portfolio of their work which they can send to other schools for scholarships and admissions.

“It’s equipment that will allow students and myself to photograph artwork in a very professional way with the use of backdrops, lighting, reflectors in order for students to document their work,” said Lori Sogge, West Marshall High School art teacher. “Also I have students that will take their digital art work and they will submit them to colleges for art scholarships.”

Class work needs to be digitized now because of the changing nature of media, Sogge said. When she was a student pieces would be sent via mail as opposed to Email.

“We physically had to take the work for it to be judged,” she said.

Having a digital portfolio student the students will be able build skills in artwork and photography.

Sogge first applied for the grant because she worked with students on large pieces of art, especially her 3D studio students, which were difficult to move.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to get things purchased and hung up,” Sogge said. “This is a whole new ball of wax.”

Sogge is passionate about giving her students an opportunity to show their work to a wider audience.

“It’s really exciting to allow students to have access readily available for them,” Sogge said.

The studio will give students a chance to get their artwork photographed and digitized during school hours instead of having to come in after school or find other ways.

The grant covered all of the costs for equipment.

“It makes it easier for students to even use their cell phones,” Sogge said. “A lot of kids have much better cell phones than I do currently and they take amazing pictures with them and this allows them to have the right kind of lighting.”

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely students will be able to use the studio this year because she and her students can’t get into the school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic also prevented the award ceremony from the Community Foundation of Marshall County from happening.

“Everything’s just kind of put on hold for the moment,” Sogge said.

The award money was sent to Sogge, but to the school, so she hasn’t been able to get access to it yet.

“Right now I’m working on getting students ready for online learning,” Sogge said. “When the dust settles I’m looking forward to being able to get things purchased.”

Most likely students taking Sogge’s classes in the fall will be able to take advantage of the new studio.

“Through my understanding of photography and composition and playing around with lighting we should be able to get kids up and running to create amazing photographs of their artwork,” Sogge said.

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Contact Thomas Nelson at 641-753-6611 or tnelson@timesrepublican.com