Anjali Bose ’20
Photo courtesy of Kemi Odeyemi ’20
During her time at Episcopal Academy, Isabel Handal ‘20 has shown exemplary skills in the visual arts, specifically 2-D. “Ever since I was little I’ve been interested in art,” says Handal, “because it’s a way that I get to express my creativity in a non-stressful way. But I love being able to actually have a class to go to where I can really channel my creative energy into something beautiful.”
Handal found her passion for art at a young age. “I started in middle school with art, which I really liked, then I went into high school and I did Foundations of Art, and I got to the section of 2-D. I definitely felt that 2-D was the art that I really clicked with, and I’ve been in 2-D ever since,” Handal explains. “I’ve taken 2-D design one and two, and Honors, three and four.”
David Sigel, Chair of the Visual Arts Department, who has taught Handal in all her subsequent 2-D art classes at Episcopal, only has praises to offer. “She has a very original mark that you can clearly see. If I hung everyone’s projects on the board you would know exactly which one Izzy did because of her investigation of surface and her understanding of volume. Even with that observational rendering, she still has this very stylistic mark.” Sigel continues, “Izzy’s always very thoughtful in how she interprets and takes ownership of every assignment.”
“My favorite kind of art is painting. I love oil painting,” Handal says. “Oil on wood, oil on canvas. It’s all very fun, it’s kind of an easy medium to work with because it’s very forgiving. So if you make a mistake it’s pretty easy to fix!” jokes Handal. “I, also, like drawing, just paper, and pencil. Just the purest, most raw sketch. I really enjoy still lifes. So, anything from a flower to a camera or a bench, or just life in general. I really like to draw just aspects of life, so a lamp or a clock, maybe. Just things around us.”
Sigel continues, “She has absolutely improved from when I taught her in Foundations of Art. I think after all the work she has put in, you can’t help but see growth.”
Sigel comments, “I think Izzy, like everybody else, has that uniqueness, but the thing that I really celebrate in Izzy’s work is the connection that she sees in her artwork and that pride that she takes in developing her work to the next level.”
A friend of Handal, Jacqueline Miller ‘20 reflects, “I can remember so many times last year where Izzy would always be in the art room during lunch and I would go and look at her project and it would obviously be amazing. She’s such a hard worker in everything she does and honestly, no one is more deserving of this recognition.”
Another peer of Handal’s, Kate Hershey ‘20, says, “Izzy is an amazing friend and always makes my day. She’s always so modest about her incredible artistic abilities, and I’m so happy to see her get this title.”
Handal explains, “I do like to do a lot of art outside of school, but unfortunately, because we’re all super busy right now, I haven’t really had a lot of time. I like to paint on my own, but most of the art I’m doing right now is definitely in school, which is why I’m really grateful for the classes I have to do solely art.” She continues, “I definitely would not be so into art if it wasn’t for having such great classmates and art teachers. I especially think Mr. Sigel is just one of the best art teachers ever and he’s just so encouraging.”
“I would really like to pursue some type of art after high school, maybe even as a minor or major. I think it’s really fun and just amazing,” explains Handal. “It’s very calming, a great stress reliever, and it’d be really fun to get to learn and work professionally in something I’m so passionate about.”
Handal concludes, “I think art mostly means to me a sense of peace. I know that when I’m doing art and I’m drawing and creating, everything else just kind of goes away. I’m not worried about anything else that’s going on. I’m just focusing on the art at that moment.”