In high school, students begin with preliminary art classes, studying two-dimensional design, perspective, drawing, color theory, painting, printmaking and progressing to three-dimensional design including ceramics, sculpture and textile. Students also explore the historical and cultural contexts in which many artworks are created.

From there, interested students can choose to specialize in painting, drawing, ceramics and sculpture, graphics and printmaking, or textiles and fibers.

Art Teachers

Julie Gawel, AP Art

Ms. Gawel teaches Art 1A Drawing & Painting, Art IB Sculpture, Art II-Drawing, Art IIII Drawing, Painting II, Painting III, and AP Art Drawing, AP 2D Design, and AP 3D Portfolio. She also sponsors the Right Siders Art Club and is the Art Education Chair for the PTSA. Ms. Gawel is originally from Michigan and has been teaching art for over 30 years. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Alma College, an Art Education degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. She spent 19 years teaching high school and middle school in the Houston area. She is very excited to be in the Dallas area and to be teaching at Lakeview Centennial High School for the past 11 years. She enjoys drawing, painting, ceramics, running and being outdoors.

Edward Saenz, Art

Mr. Saenz teaches Art 1A Drawing and Painting, Drawing and Painting II, and Drawing and Painting III.  Mr. Saenz is originally from a suburb of Chicago, Hanover Park, and moved to the Dallas area in 1991 after high school. After years of industrial employment, marriage, and fatherhood, in 2008 he decided to enroll in Dallas College to obtain a degree. During this time, he survived his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s and Large-cell lymphoma cancer, then graduated with a BFA in studio art from SMU Meadow School of Art in 2014. Mr. Saenz began his teaching career in Dallas ISD and became a proud LC Patriot in 2022. He enjoys oil painting, collecting records, basic woodworking, local travel, riding an old man bicycle and cooking.