Ventura College art students embody talents and skills that allow them to escape from the everyday demands of school, work and stress.

Art and other skills help students step out of the daily grind and into their own reality. Mike Hellmuth, 20, explained the importance of art to him.

“Everything in life, everything around you is art in some sense,” said Hellmuth. “So it’s nice to be able to capture it in one motion. It gives me a chance to stop and take everything in. It definitely gives me a chance to vent and express myself a little bit.”

Participating in art is not only for students focusing on a career in it. For many students, art allows them to create their own self-expression and focus on activities they enjoy.

The VC Art Department also motivates these students by bringing them together for student art shows on campus. They currently are in the midst of one show that has been on exhibit since April 15 and through May 7, at VC’s New Media Gallery and Art Gallery 2.

Dutch Myers, 59, a professor of photography and digital law, explained how students prosper through the recognition of these shows.

“It energizes them,” said Myers. “They get inspiration when they’re recognized and it gives them energy to continue and go deeper and work harder.”

Likewise, Hellmuth believes that this is a productive way to motivate students to work harder. “I think the art department putting on an art show is a really good idea. It’s definitely a good experience for art students, also helps them with their confidence and makes them stronger art students,” he said.

Chelsea Jones, 28, won an award for Excellence in Multimedia at the Student Art Show. Art has always been important part of her life; “the perfect outlet for grieving or just for fun.”

“It’s just always been a hobby, never really made a living off of it,” said Jones. “It’s cool to be recognized and have people come see your art that you just did for an assignment.”