Beginning digital arts teacher James Finch said his class is running smoothly despite changes caused by the pandemic. 

His digital art students currently are working on the Mickey Project, for which they have to color the popular cartoon figure Mickey Mouse in three different poses, using the techniques taught earlier in the year. 

Former digital art student, Sharmaine G. (8) liked how Finch taught and explained the tools in Adobe Illustrator. She also enjoyed how fun Finch’s class was and how he made it enjoyable by making jokes such as, “Don’t out-draw me, I’m supposed to be the teacher.”

“The Mickey Design was one of my favorites because it was our first project other than the lesson plan in Adobe Illustrator,” Sharmaine said. “Mr. Finch as a teacher was very encouraging towards his students and pushed us to do our best.”

Finch has taught on campus for more than 20 years. All his life, Finch was around art. His mother was an artist and they would talk about art together. However, Finch didn’t want a career in art until much later in life.

“That wasn’t what I wanted to do growing up,” Finch said. “I was always afraid that if I had a career in arts, I would no longer like it, it would become a job.”

Finch had gone to school for something completely different. At first he wanted to become a marine biologist. He loved diving and wanted to know what secrets the ocean had. It ended up being tougher than he had anticipated, and so that’s when he decided to take an advertising and design class. Once he was in the class he fell in love with it and even switched majors. Now, many years later, he is teaching a digital arts class and helping students find what they love as well.

“I took an advertising and design class just to bring up my GPA,” Finch said. “And I hit it and it was like, I’m home. This is where I’m supposed to be.”

By Armani Catti

Editor’s note: Brevard Public Schools prohibits the inclusion of middle-schoolers’ last names on district-sponsored websites.