Sean Roper, senior in art and design with a minor in psychology, teaches a basic drawing class in the Workspace, a studio space located in the basement of the Memorial Union. Roper hopes to later utilize his talents in a career in art therapy.

Q: What does drawing do for you and what does it give you?

A: I kind of think of drawing as intellectual discovery, kind of working through a problem and either doing some research to figure out how to fix that problem or just working through a situation.

Q: What do you teach in the Workspace?

A: I basically teach the very, very fundamentals. I first teach them how to make texture on a surface, and then I teach them how to make shapes. Then I teach them how to put those shapes into space. And after learning perspective, they can basically do whatever they want.

Q: Why do you think it is important for students to have a space like the Workspace?

A: I think it’s really good for students who are just trying to learn something new but they don’t want to go through the hassle of spending a lot of money on a larger course. [It] kind of puts your foot in the door, I guess.

Q: What have you learned from teaching in the Workspace?

A: I’ve learned more about how important it is to talk to people and ask them what they’re think and what they are doing. I used to be really shy in front of people, and I guess learning more communication skills in front of people.