If you walk into Starbucks in Athens this December, you'll be greeted by artwork crafted by some very talented Athens Middle School students. On one portion of a wall, AMS students have a semi-permanent rotating art installation. And just a little further down, at least through New Year’s, you’ll find some of the most festive coffee cups ever, also courtesy of middle school artists.
For the second year, Athens Middle School art students competed to come up with the best holiday design for the iconic Starbucks cup with the green siren logo. Nearly 300 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades participated, under the guidance of art teachers Michael Black and Makayla Busch. A winner chosen for each grade level. They are: eighth-grader Zully De Luna, seventh-grader Eisley Diamond, and sixth-grader Yulianna Benavidez.
“I wanted something simple but with details to make it stand out,” said Diamond of her ornament-adorned cup. “So I put black behind it to make the colors pop.”
Rather than draw on the cups themselves — it’s no small challenge drawing on a convex surface — the students drew on a Starbucks-provided template, which were later cut and glued to the cups. The project took a few weeks to complete, with most students going through at least two draft versions.
De Luna, whose portrait work is also currently included in the Starbucks art exhibit, said she enjoyed the challenge. In fact, she enjoys most anything artistic.
“I’ve always liked to draw,” she said simply, noting that she’s been in Mr. Black’s class for three years now.
“I’m one of the lucky teachers that gets to have some kids for three years,” said Black. “Then it’s really hard to see them go.”