Hamilton Southeastern Highschool’s AP Drawing students dedicate an entire year to creating a portfolio of 12 original pieces for submission to the College Board. The works range in size, with some as large as a striking 4-by-8-foot painting displayed in the school’s hallways. Each student must not only showcase technical skill but also develop a specific theme that ties their collection together.

For senior Nico Suriano, the challenge of creating cohesive art pieces is not just about the art, but about telling a personal story through it. Suriano chose a theme that captures feelings many struggle to describe.

“My art theme focuses heavily on derealization and depersonalization,” Suriano said, “And really putting and emphasis on showing what it can be like when you feel very physically disconnected from your body but still mentally there.”

Nico explained that his theme comes from his own experience, turning his artwork into a reflection of personal challenges with mental health. For him, the pieces are not only about creative expression, but also about connecting with viewers who may have felt something similar.

“I wanted to focus on this because mental health has been a very big part of my life,” Suriano said, “And this is a theme that I feel like I could pretty well display with my experiences.”

Over the course of the school year, Suriano and his AP Drawing classmates will devote countless hours to brainstorming, sketching, and painting as they bring their 12-piece collections to life while experimenting with new techniques and refining their vision. For Suriano, the most rewarding part will be watching that vision take shape.

“I’m most excited about seeing everything I end up coming up with at the very end” Suriano said, “and just how my progress and my ideas have evolved throughout the year.”