Middle school students started the year off on the "right foot." The 3D shoe project was a great way to build community among students in the classroom and peers within the school. The 3D paper shoe models were displayed in McAdams, celebrating each student’s uniqueness and enhancing a sense of belonging. They then explored still life art inspired by Maya Kopitseva, focusing on shape, proportion, contrast, and texture. They began by observing fruits to improve their realistic depiction skills and create balanced compositions. Next, they chose contrasting colors for their backgrounds to enhance the vibrancy of the fruits, reflecting Kopitseva’s style. Finally, they added real paper towels to their artwork, enriching the texture and allowing for material experimentation. The resulting collection showcased their unique interpretations and artistic growth, hopefully inspiring further exploration in still life art.