LINCOLN (SNR) - The COVID 19 pandemic had a silver lining for Anne Marie Wurtz of Lincoln — and in turn, for students of St. Michael School in Lincoln.
Over the last year, the high school junior used the time of limited activity to hone her skills as an artist. A member of St. Michael Parish, Anne Marie is largely self-taught. She began drawing when she was 15 years old.
She learned how to draw by watching videos of other artists, including time-lapse videos. While an eighth grader, she attended a once-a-week art class at a home school co-op. As a freshman she took an introduction to drawing class at East High School in Lincoln.
After learning the basics of drawing, Anne Marie began to use the newly found time during the pandemic to expand her work.
Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, Anne Marie pursued art for fun, but she said it was really the uninterrupted time of the pandemic lockdown where she spent much more time on portraits, in particular, individuals. It was then she realized how much she enjoyed drawing. She uses family members and friends as subjects for her work.
In addition, she also found a special subject in portraits was to draw people who have died. She has drawn many portraits for people who have lost loved ones in death through a commission by the family or friends.
Anne Marie also focuses on religious subjects including St. Philomena, Our Lady, Our Lord on the Cross and other saints.
Recently, Anne Marie’s work came to the attention of administrators at St. Michael Grade School. Intrigued by her work, St. Michael principal Mrs. Sue Braun asked Anne Marie if she would teach the basics of art to St. Michael School students.
Accepting the offer, Anne Marie is currently mentoring St. Michael art students.
In this role she teaches students the fundamentals of art and how to draw people. She is working in each art class, preschool through eighth grades, helping students with various art projects teaching them techniques in all art mediums. Recently she taught students how to draw the human eye and how to use light and values.
